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<\/a><\/p>\nMemento Mori<\/p>\n
I have not forgotten you,
\nThough you\u2019ve been gone now more than three years.
\nI visit your grave and see your purple flowers
\nOn the bushes and lilac that we planted,
\nAnd remember how much you loved that color. <\/p>\n
I have not forgotten to go and talk with you at your spot,
\nAnd say a prayer, longing to see you once more.
\nYes, I know it will happen some day,
\nBut in the meanwhile I miss your hugs
\nAnd the days we sang in the choir together. <\/p>\n
I have not forgotten your way with words.
\nIn fact, I went through your notebooks and diaries
\nAnd discovered you were a poet, just like me.
\nI hoped you would be pleased when I published a little collection
\nOf the poems of the \u2018Untamed Spark\u2019. <\/p>\n
I have not forgotten the day you were born,
\nThe Scripture for the day said\u2013\u2018I will multiply your kindred\u2019
\nAnd so I stayed dressed all night
\nAnd was there in the room when you
\ncame into this world the baby with all that hair.<\/p>\n
I have not forgotten all the good times,
\nHow you giggled when I tickled you
\nAnd then in exasperation you\u2019d exclaim\u2014- DAD!!
\nMeaning stop!
\nBut clearly you were enjoying the attention. <\/p>\n
I have not forgotten all those times at Cherry Grove
\nWhen we jumped the waves together, or
\nYou jumped off my shoulders over a wave,
\nOr when finally you rode your first wave,
\nBody surfing to the shore. <\/p>\n
I have not forgotten how you trembled as you held my arm
\nAnd we walked down the aisle together
\nThe day you got married in First Church,
\nAnd I gave you away.
\nSome days I can see you in that dress in my dreams. <\/p>\n
I have not forgotten how you loved books and music and sports,
\nJust like your old Dad.
\nIt meant a lot to me when you put on the Carolina gear,
\nEven though it was just my school
\nAnd we cheered so loud for my Tar Heels. <\/p>\n
I have not forgotten to tell you again how proud I was of you,
\nWhen you graduated from college, and from grad school
\nAnd got that great job.
\nYou probably know that your boss came to pay his respects,
\nAnd so did so many of your friends, for you were greatly loved. <\/p>\n
I have not forgotten to honor you, as I started a scholarship in your name.
\nIt supports women struggling to get their doctoral degrees,
\nSo they can teach for the Lord.
\nI knew that would make you smile,
\nWhich is the main reason I did it. <\/p>\n
I remember I sang to you at bedtime every night
\nAnd when you lay there in that box,
\nOne last time I sang \u2018You are my sunshine\u2019
\nAnd said \u2018night, night\u2019,
\nAnd then you were gone, not sleeping but RIP.<\/p>\n
Remembering is bittersweet,
\nBut forgetting will never happen,
\nAs you are etched in our hearts
\nAs our first born\u2014
\nOffered back up to the One who loaned you to us
\nAugust 14th, 1979.<\/p>\n
Love,<\/p>\n
Your Dad<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Memento Mori I have not forgotten you, Though you\u2019ve been gone now more than three years. I visit your grave and see your purple flowers On the bushes and lilac that we planted, And remember how much you loved that color. I have not forgotten to go and talk with you at your spot, And […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n