IN OUR HEARTS

She would have been 100 today
if she had lived
if she had outlived the rest home
the loss of a husband
the loss of interest
toward the end
she kind of gave up
said she was ready to go
she did not read the paper anymore
she did not talk that much
she just accepted

she waited for her God
to take her home
said she was more than ready
all her friends had died
her possessions less and less
her memory fading
into the clouds

she simply went away
like a leaf blown from a tree
one day she was here
the next day gone

yet the tree still stands
knows it is missing one of its own
the family left behind remembers
the things she used to do
the things she used to say
all those scrumptious meals
all those family gatherings
all that laughter
all that love
now gone

we light a candle
to commemorate her birthday
and share our thoughts of her
she would like that I am sure

do not we all have that one desire
to be remembered by others
to be recalled in joy and happiness

on this day she is so remembered
in our minds and especially
in our hearts.