Five Years On, and Grateful

I've written several posts on anniversaries related to loss. Today is my sister's birthday. Were she here, she would be 58. Her death was the motivation for me to start this blog. And this week, five years after her passing, I have spent substantive time looking at previous posts. What wonderful work is here! How grateful I am to every writer, artist and photographer who has contributed. Thank you so much. Your very souls reach out from this screen to other souls who need and want to hear what you have to say. Blessings, all. And happy birthday, sis.

IT’S STILL YOUR BIRTHDAY

Ysabel de la Rosa

I cry because you are not here

I cry because you are

I cry because you were beautiful and

light like a daisy in a gentle breeze

I cry because I grieve

I cry because I’m grateful

I cry from confusion over

how earth and heaven mingle

or do not, knowing that I hear

your voice just as clearly now

as I did once upon a time

in an old house with a big backyard

and a front porch where we called

baby ants "antlers" and you sang

like Louie Armstrong about Jesus

The tears slide down my cheeks

as memories float across my mind

and wonder stirs in my heart and soul

that you -brightly shining- ever were at all

And so the grief, and gratitude,

the deep, deep gratitude,

are mine, all mine, all mine