Saturday, January 22, 2011

Ode to an aunt


I tried to decide what you gave me
so I could thank you and be grateful.
Tuna casserole you gave me.
Aloe on my burnt lip when
I hovered too close to the
Steaming hot dish trying to
inhale all its cheesy goodness.
You gave me peanut butter perfume,
sweet lies, and a place of refuge
from the ills of the world.
And I realized you gave me
the gift of laughter.
I never saw you unhappy.
 I’m sure you were sometimes
 but I never saw it.
You gave me warm
embraces, encircling me
with love and acceptance.
Taking my face in your hands
You would tell me how pretty
I was even though I didn’t feel it.
 When you no longer knew my
name your eyes  were still lit with
recognition and delight. You always
had dancing eyes of joy.
I would rather you forget me  
  if it would mean you
also forget the pain of losing
everything. May your eyes only be
 lit with Peace until the end of your days.

3 comments:

paulboo said...

Beautifully written and straight from your heart, I feel for you Rhonda.

br said...

you poem is beautiful and brought tears.oh to have a loving aunt is something very special.

Rachel Fee-Prince said...

lovely. now i love a woman I never even knew :)