She graduated from university, a young woman full of mirth and bold dreams.
Her two closest friends described her as the one with belly laughter, and vision to change the world.
It was raining so hard that fateful night that the subway trains screeched, metal striking, rousing the commuters blissfully napping.
Her smiling face framed on the coffin and missalette, she did... starting with her family and community.
She was the second of his three children, and the one who proudly shows her long scar from a heart surgery when she was 4 years old.
With a robust voice, her father spoke through folded notes and photos: celebrating her life full of courage, fun, love for music, and most of all, laughter.
The jaimaican pink rose, cusp of womanhood, bloomed with the sweetest fragrance.
In the funeral hall teeming with unanswered questions and somber suits, the father wore his frail heart on his coat, beaming with gratitude.
Posted for OpenLinkNight of Real Toads (Monday) and D'verse Poets Pub (Tuesday) ~
We attended the funeral over the weekend for my colleague's daughter (22 years old, after a tragic car accident).
Taken way to soon, we just never know when it is our time to go. Captured the scene that no parent should have to live through.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful tribute to her, the Jamaican rose. Again, I'm sorry for your loss and my heart goes out to all of you, Heaven.
ReplyDeletei'm sorry grace.
ReplyDeleteand this...
is a beautiful tribute.
This was hard for me to read as it took me back to my nieces funeral. She's the one who had the heart transplant and died at age 16. It was so hard on her mother and I never thought she'd recover, but she did and now we celebrate the life of my niece Nicole who shined bright for such a short time.
ReplyDeleteMy prayers are with the parents and loved ones of this Jamaican rose.
What a beautiful tribute... it's so sad when one so young is taken... I can picture the father speaking "through folded notes and photos." I can only imagine how tough that was for him to say good-bye to "the one with belly laughter, and vision to change the world."
ReplyDeleteOh, so sad. You have so beautifully captured the bright light of that young woman, and the funeral scene. You took me there. Her parents will be so desolate.
ReplyDeletewow...to survive a heart transplant at that age would def be reason to celebrate life...but to lose one so young...how tragic...my niece died at 6 months....kindeys...ugh...to see a coffin so small....oy
ReplyDeleteNever an easy task dealing with the loss of one so young...a beautifully sentimental tribute to her!
ReplyDeleteOh, Grace...I'm sorry...that is awful...you've captured it so well.
ReplyDeleteHow does one fill her space...how long does it take to sit in her chair at the table, to delete her number from your cell phone... It goes on and on. My mother's heart can't bear it.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry Grace. When someone goes so young it is so hard...just never makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI remembered I cried for a young man who died. I never knew him, but it touched me so much that a life full of promise can be lost, just like that.
ReplyDeleteSadness I cannot comprehend...
Heaven, this is heartbreaking. So sad to have this happen to a person just beginning her adulthood. And tragic as well for her family. Well penned words for a young woman who deserves to be remembered.
ReplyDeleteSuch a waste.
ReplyDeletesuch a sad thing, Heaven :(
ReplyDeleteCan something be horribly sad, and yet beautiful? Then this was
ReplyDeleteI love the term jamaican rose and the father's gratitude for sharing his love and pain
Rick
This is lovely, as I'm sure the young girl was. I can't imagine the father's pain, and I admire that he can focus on gratitude.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad - a life cut short, and a father trying to come to terms with his life missing one of his children. Tragic.
ReplyDeleteGrace, So sorry. You memorialized beautifully. Must have been very difficult to write...
ReplyDeleteYes, it took me time to frame the words~ Grief is very difficult to write about. Thanks for the visit ~
Deleteheartbreaking... there are times when this life is so unfair. xo
ReplyDeleteThis is heartbreakingly beautiful. I'm so sorry for this tragic loss - grateful for your tribute.
ReplyDeleteHow tragic indeed. No words can do such loss justice, but yours are full of beauty and sympathy.
ReplyDeleteThis is so heart breaking. No parent should ever have to go to the funeral of their child. Very tender.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully written, every detail here is true - nothing overly sentimental or precious. My condolences - and the quality of this is a tribute indeed.
ReplyDeleteWhew, gave me chills. The final lines are especially moving.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tribute. May she rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteThis is so full of sorrow and love, Grace. No parent should ever have to live through this tragedy.
ReplyDeleteHeartbreaking, I am so sorry. Lovely tribute. May she rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteOh, Grace... this brings tears to my eyes. Things like this just break my heart.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written, Heaven oxo
ReplyDelete-Eva
" . . . she did... starting with her family and community."
ReplyDeleteThis pause held me for a long time, a long time, I know this change personally. How hard to write this. I never found few enough words. You have.
And then, a very young one too? O, Jamaican rose.
But perhaps this is another perspective of the same woman in a poem that could continue for each person who loved her: Jamaican rose. A very sensitive poem.
so sorry for your colleagues's loss..22 is way too young to go..
ReplyDeleteHow sad a young life snuffed out in tragic circumstances. Such a wonderful tribute, Heaven!
ReplyDeleteHank
Oh dear, so so sad. Well told. k.
ReplyDeleteSo very tragic when a young family member is taken too soon. My heart goes out to her parents...and all loved ones affected by her passing...and you, Grace. A touching tribute...
ReplyDeletevery striking, and so tragic. well written!
ReplyDeleteheartfelt .. could so well see the father standing there and my heart breaks for him ..
ReplyDeleteA beautiful tribute....tragic when someone so young is taken away. You have captured the grief with great sensitivity and grace
ReplyDeleteWhatever influence your writing takes, it is always given its own aura through your grace! Beautiful xoxo
ReplyDeleteTouching.... My heart goes out to you.....
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautifully sad. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful tribute. Appropriate in tone and style.
ReplyDeletea heartfelt and beautiful tribute.
ReplyDeleteThis so so moving. Like everyone else said, it was a beautiful tribute :)
ReplyDelete