Too soon

My nephew Paul died on June 4th. His passing was a shock, and left a hole in our world. Jake and Sara and I went down to the funeral and I've been thinking on many things lately.

The most powerful images from the funeral and the reception were glimpses of the amazing young women my nieces have become. Stephanie is 16 and lost her big brother; Kate is 23 and lost her punching bag puppy dog little brother. Both acted with incredible grace in the face of almost overwhelming sadness.

Poise

Twenty-three is not old enough
Sixteen much too young
to show so much poise
and be so strong.

To move with such grace
through so much pain
and to help so many
learn to smile again.

Though a brother is gone
too soon, too much undone
the sisters too early blossomed
into the women they’ve become.

kim

june 2010