Our Sunshine Girl

For days, I've been looking

for  some secret blend of letters

or sounds, for some poetic

way to capture her essence—to honor

this one who touched

and tickled our inside places

who, with rock star grace

 gave

and gave and gave.

But, I see—we cannot capture sunlight

or bottle beauty.

  

Like songs belted out loud

or fields of winking daisies

she showered us with bursts

of color that will not—that cannot 

fade.  Her deep-bellied living

reminding us to breathe—not just to breathe

but to breathe

now.

She showed us 

how to see with eyes awake—to laugh 

and laugh

with a little bit more

of ourselves.  How to make this living—this being here

matter.

She is the breath we will keep on breathing.

 As we hold the sun's

warmth

long after our eyes cease

to see

we are infinitely full

and filled

with the smiling breath 

that is she

*                         *                          *

This poem was written, with so much love, for my beautiful sister-in-law, Amy, who passed away on 11/17/12.  I am forever grateful for all she continues to teach me and so so many lucky others.

To read more posts about Amy, click here and here and here