Monday 5th December 2016
Danny Howell writes:
On the morning of Monday 5th December 2016, Richard Dombkowski called at my front door. Nothing unusual about that. He often called on me, just to chat, sometimes about things that had engaged his interest, or to share his new discoveries in music, or to bring me articles, poetry or song lyrics he had written. I can’t recall what he was waxing lyrical about on this occasion but as usual Richard was animated and spilling out words ten to the dozen, but of course he was an avid wordster and a true poet (he called himself ‘Rikardo’ when signing his work)’. I quickly realised he hadn’t heard my sad news, that my partner Lauraine had died the previous morning. Richard had known Lauraine since his Kingdown School days. I interrupted him and told him of her death. Richard went silent and froze on the spot temporarily before saying how sorry and saddened he was. He then put his arms out wide, stepped quickly towards me and gripped his arms tight around me; it was probably one of the tightest hugs I’ve ever been given. When he let go and stepped back he had tears in his eyes and a teardrop running down one of his cheeks. Richard was a very sensitive man and a man who could never hide his emotions. The next day Richard called on me again, bringing me a poem he had written about Lauraine’s passing. On the bottom of the sheet of the paper he added: “To Danny. December 2016. Sharing a part of your pain. My thoughts sincerely go out to you. Richard D.” Here is the poem:
Goodbye Lauraine
(It’s so hard, it’s not easy)
When the sun goes down
And the wind becomes still
In the Dark of the night
We can all feel the chill
Goodbye Lauraine
It’s so hard, it’s not easy
Saying Goodbye to someone like you
Goodbye Lauraine
Now free of pain
In the care of the Lord
And his Angels
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye Lauraine
We love you, we’ll miss you
And will endeavour to call out your name
When the sun goes down
And the wind becomes still
In the Dark of the night
We can all feel the chill
Goodbye Lauraine
It’s so hard, it’s not easy.
(Rikardo, Dec. 2016)