Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Today we scattered my mum's ashes at Chanctonbury Ring in West Sussex - a place that was very special to her. We all put a rose in this old tree stump - so old it was probably there when she was visiting the place as a child. Then my sister and I read this poem.

You can shed tears that she is gone
or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she's gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back
or you can do what she'd want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

She is Gone by David Harkins