You Signed Your Name

We moved with six houseplants And a mattress tied on top You held the map beside me Till the streetlights all came on We ate from one saucepan On the floor of our new place You said, "We'll find our feet here" With the worry on your face

You were never quite as fearless As the rest of us believed

You signed your name With a hand that wasn't steady Said, "I might not feel ready But I'm starting anyway" Claire, I've watched you make a life Out of things you dared to try You didn't wait for fear to go away You signed your name

There were books across the kitchen And your notes beside the bread You practised saying, "I'm your nurse" While I washed up before bed Forty-two, your first blue uniform You stood there in the hall I took about a hundred pictures You were late because of that

You signed your name With a hand that wasn't steady Said, "I might not feel ready But I'm starting anyway" Claire, I've watched you make a life Out of things you dared to try You didn't wait for fear to go away You signed your name

Now there's Italian on your phone While you're making us some tea You say a sentence three times over Then you try it out on me Fifty years, and still I love The way you talk about next June Let's book the train, let's take the trip I'll learn a phrase or two

You signed your name And you made it to that morning All the nights you kept on going When you couldn't see the way Claire, there's more you want to do And I'll go on cheering you Through every brave and ordinary day You signed your name

Whatever comes after this Save me a seat beside you I'll be there, Claire I'll be there