Memories of elegance 

Surround me

Engulf me

In sweetness

Tinged with 

Grief

At the sight

And the experience

Of this

Of you

In this 

Space

Your life
Doesn't have to
Be perfect
For you to
Be proud --

So sayeth
Naya Rivera

In fact
She said
The less perfect
It is --
The more proud
You can be.

So I am --
And I'll be.

Maybe
I can't
Bear to lose you

And maybe
You
Are already gone

Maybe
You are
Aging up
Somewhere

And maybe
You are 35
Now
Nowhere

Everywhere

Wherever
You are.

I remember
You tonight

I celebrate
You tonight.

I thank you
Tonight

For your
Gentleness
Of spirit

Your reminders
To play
After every
Storm.

For your
Fun
And wit

And every
Bit

Of what made you
You.

Once upon a time
We found
A mother -- you --
Whose love abounds.

Saving him
Before yourself
With all your strength
Above all else.

We see you
A hero now
Your echo always
Living loud.

Your love proud.

Beneath the sky
We wonder why
Even when we
Knew...

We find you.
We thank you.
We love you.

Yes, I Remember

Sometimes
There are
No
Words
To say
How much
You are
Missed.
How much
We wish
Things
Could have
Been
Just
A little
Different.
Sometimes
There is
No way
To convey
How grateful
We are
That you
Were and are
Just
Who we need
To remember
Peace
In our hearts
And
To remember
To play
When the
Storm
Is
Over.

Birthday Thoughts

Here without her
But she is never
Far from
The thoughts
Of those who
Love and treasure
Her.

SEE?

What a big lesson
From such a little girl.
What a big house
She's living in now.
And what a sweet echo
She has left behind.
What a great father
Who cared for and cherished her.
What a strong mother
Who held her and raised her.
What a trusting Emily
Who started the legacy.
What a playful Caleb
Who brought her such laughter.
What a loving Will
Who always was there for her.
What wisdom from Shaoey
Who always showed hope.
What a best friend Stevey
Who was always around.
And what a Maria -
Oh, what a gift you are.

Night Light Shining

Now it's time
To lay your head
Down to rest
In heaven.
Angels surround
You.
You're safe and sound.
So sleep well,
Breathe deep,
And know that
Here,
Your memory
We'll keep.

The Painter

It's been three years
Tonight,
But you are not
Forgotten.
You are remembered -
Loved because you are
You.
A unique little soul, sent
To change
So many.

All Good Things

Looking back at the past
I see, it impacts the future,
Even when those impacting it
Are not with me anymore.
All good things
Come to an end,
But good people
Never do.

Brief Length of Time

Twenty-four months
Is just too much,
And five years
Just isn't enough
To be without someone
You love,
And simply
To be.

Maria

Years have passed
Since you were here
And so many
Long
To hold you.
But they only have to
Look back on your life
To know that you
Are being held
By the best
Protector.

Taylor

Four years later
What's to savor?
Time with family -
Now get braver.
Four years later
What's to cherish?
A girl is gone,
But they know where.
So savor time
And promises
Made and kept,
Even with hearts
Badly bent.
Know both loved ones
Are alive,
And carry that hope
Deep inside.

Starlight

I think of you
A decade gone
Fifteen still
And even longer.
You were a friend
A son and a brother
I miss you tonight
And every other.
So shine yourself
Down with the light
Of the stars
And we'll know
That your love
Is never far.

Corner-Dweller

A decade back
I learned you were dying.
Today, I know
That I'm alive.
So I spend the days
Praying,
And know that you're always
Staying
In the corners
Of my mind.

Pedro

Believe
In the power
Of the human
Spirit when
You see a man
Like this.
Believe
In love and
In a calling
When
You see a man
Like this.
Believe
In the message
And the courage
And the dignity
Of a man
Like this.

Never Lost

"How could we lose you?"
The world asked three times.
First for Ed -
Who launched careers
And gave teddy bears.
Next for Farrah,
Who I remember for
Playing simply
The role of a mother.
And finally, Michael
Who no one expected
To lose so soon -
The King Of Pop,
But also a father,
And also a child,
Hurting and searching
For peace.
Tonight,
And always,
We remember you.

Mila

We may have lost you
But you are not gone.
You may have been young
But you were wise.
You may be gone,
But you're not forgotten.
You may have hurt
But it's all better now.
You may have been tiny
But you were fierce
Today we remember
Because you were here.

After All

If I could see you one more time
I’d want to tell you again
Thank you for everything you’ve done
You’ve been the best to me
After all
After everything you went through
You still came back
Helping me off my knees
Please, Shane, understand
Know that I’m trying the best I can
Yet there are still times
I can’t shake you from my mind
Your face consumes my thoughts
Your voice dances in my head
And I can’t sleep tonight
Because there you are again, after all
Helping me to my knees
So much more than just a friend
You were my confidant
My truest friend, always
There’s no rhyme to this one
There doesn’t have to be
Because this poem, it seems
Is just between us two
I want you back
Can’t say you’d stay
Your selflessness
Consumed you.
Can’t meet you ‘til eternity
Sometimes it seems so far
Away from where I am now
Seems so far to go
I look at where I’m at
And can’t help but think I’m blessed
To be alive, ‘cause that was
Your one wish…
After all
Your amazing soul
Is flying above me
You’re around me
Shane, I could repeat your name
Time and time again
But even that won’t change tonight
I wish I could see you just once
When you catch my tears in your hand
Please bring them to our Father
To mingle with His own so we might
Be united, and I might not forget
After all
He gave His Son for you and me
Jesus died to set us free
So here I am, after all
So with our tears in your grasp
And your love in our hearts
Dying, we live
After all