Among the women who have left a mark
Indelible and striking as the stars
There shall remain the ones who stirred my heart
To fierce ambitions, waging well their wars
Both global and, yes, personal. But some
Remain a summer breeze; a gentle brook
And stir but softly, low and sweet their hum
On time and place where I stood. And now look:
I am a windswept meadow, carved by you
Until I'm marked by leaves and quilts and smiles
Now etched on me to my surprise. It's true--
I may not always see the length in miles.
But here the stream ends in a waterfall,
And you have left its echo in us all.
postscript
My grandmother passed away at the age of 91 yesterday. She was an incredible woman. Survived wars as a military wife and raised four boys and worked full time as a nurse when her marriage fell apart. But she remained strong and sweet, and many, many of my traits come from her. This is my tribute.