A POEM

Dedicated to Jeanine Marie

And she has left us.
Yet, in her absense,
Her presence is,
And shall be
Stronger than ever.

For she is
eveywhere now,
And she is
inside of us;

We, who witnessed
The brilliance of her flame
And were warmed by its heat;

We, who heard
the chimes
of her churchbell laughter
Ring the plains
of starry dawns;

We who stood
in the pure rain of her divine
And noble spirit
And now its blessed
honored keepers.

Within and through us
She shall live on
And our lives
shall be enriched
By her
in ways
woundrous and untold.

Fly high, dear cousin.

Submitted by a friend