A Freedom Well Earned

I wrote this poem in honor of my great grandmother whom passed away on 2.19.2012! Forever in our hearts, she will be missed.

I’m confused…This concept seems so far gone, something I cannot reach

We couldn’t tell, you almost always hid the truth from us…I guess to preserve the worry but the truth was, you were tired, your body, mind, and well-being were tired…If not tired, exhausted...The fact that you were always smiling or laughing when I saw you, concealing a lot of pain, left me…left everyone at lost for words as your body was carried away…leaving us with just a rejoicing spirit… Talk about a freedom well earned

You’ve done so much good even for those whom rather bathe in the bad times, hardships and wallow in their sorrows…You were stubborn and strong willed enough not to let it stop you, you rose above it…Played the role of a hero and a loving mother and great grand… Multi-Talented and determined… I call it a freedom well earned

The way you carried yourself and pushed the ones you loved to do better, proving we knew better…So better is what we became….In honor of you and ourselves just a much

We don’t know how… I guess I’m confused again….

They said don’t cry, you wouldn’t want that…because you’re finally free….but in reality what does free really mean? Some see it as do as they please…I took it as, hope you take it as…No more pain, no more suffering, the freedom to enjoy the view you earned, to take your place in the sky, standing side by side with our other loved ones…No more worries, no more bills to pay, no more meds to take…No more tired strains…The way the life of a woman like you were should’ve always been.... A freedom well earned

However, I think it was your character that stuck to me… The way you didn’t have to do or say much that always made me smile…The way you fussed in pathmark over chicken and muffins with your daughter Mary, the way you got up on the mornings or afternoons knowing you had a doctor’s appointment never crushed your spirit…It all seemed like so much work and it kind of relates to life…A lot of work, not easy and sometimes just plain annoying…The days I went with you and Mary got me thinking…If you can do it, why can’t I? If you can go to the doctor’s office back to back if needed, why can’t I go to school every day? You did what you had to do, so I will too and hope everyone follows suit…You taught me a lot and the lesson that stuck the most was life isn’t easy, there’s going to be a lot of things that you may not want to do but you have to do it anyways…You can’t let the little things stop you, you have to fight through whatever you face and prove the ones who doubted you wrong…For being a good teacher, I wanna thank you…Now tell me that wasn’t a freedom well earned? She got through to a hard-headed child….A freedom well earned in my eyes, I know in your eyes too