Pay any other tribute but a plastic one

Re ‘Hymn to a child never mourned’ (WDDTY vol 12 no 11, p 12): in the event that others emulate the ceremony, may I ask them not to use balloons? Many marine reptiles and mammals ingest this material when it comes down, and die a prolonged and unpleasant death. Other species also suffer grief.- Pauline Dibley, Southampton