poem: Words so Tall

for Ana Maria April 15, 2011

 

I wish I could write words tall enough

   to open the clouds for you to look down

          and see for just a moment all whose lives,

              touched by you; are somehow more, better, enhanced.

 

I wish I could pen words for a panorama,

     for that is what it would take for them to be able

          to embrace the presence you left behind when you moved on;

              as your time here was much more than the sum of typical daily trivia.

 

I wish there were words loving enough

   for us to express, with any sense of adequacy;

          the challenge you give us- to know when the clock will stop,

               and still give more than is taken in; like the sun itself, or the rain.

 

If one could hold a human spirit in a box of air,

  which sides frame the deserts and top brushes the ionosphere,

        and deep as one mother's love for all the lost children of the world,

          Then one could also start defining the scope of a life- dedicated, beautiful;                          

               and no more, no less, than fully complete.

 

If only we had the wisdom now, to frame the words,

   so tall, so expansive, so full of depth-

        we could also know how to follow the example of the likes of you;

             and make our homes, here and now, replicas of that final one.

 

 

Author's Note

My friend Jerry lost his wife Friday. She was woman who dedicated her life to the poor, the underserved, the Latino communities of Miami and Peru. She battled cancer for the last decade, and I guess just got tired of fighting so damned much.

Rest in Peace, Ana Maria. You have earned it.

The picture is a National Geographic photo of the Andes, where she and her husband have devoted their lives to a development project serving disadvantaged communities in the highlands.

Reviews

[Through the Gateway]

This was an absolutely beautiful tribute to such a brave and selfless woman. I wish I had had the opportunity to know her, but I think in some ways I will get to know her through her influence on the lives of others.

The world was a better place with her. She will be missed.

[Poetic Beauty]

The sentiment in this poem is real and the unique way you describe the beauty in this person is magnificent. I enjoyed reading this poem because it wasn't horrible sad. It showed sadness, but the beauty of the person was shown more. the respect you had for this person is in every line.

[Emily B]

this is too beautiful, my condolences, the world will miss her

[Ladysue]

this was utterly beautiful and so poetically expressed...a wonderful sentiment for a special friend...thanks for sharing...

[Ed Hart]

thank you for sharing this...we need to know about the heroes