By the 'Side

This is a pretty painting that reminds me of Katie. The little angel is so contemplative...

When Katie passed away, she didn't just leave me and her dad and her sissy. She had aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, too.

Her very "best" cousin was Tommy who was 18 months older than her. He was barely 9 when Katie left for heaven. Whenever he would talk about visiting Katie's grave, he didn't call it the "graveyard" or "graveside." He dubbed it The 'Side. All these years later, we still call it that.

Here is a poem I wrote while visiting there one day...

By the 'Side

I wonder what

would happen

if I lay down

beside you

and never got up

but the ground

is cold

and wet and hard

and I can’t

stay here

even though

I yearn to

I long to stay

here with you

but I must go now

because you would

want me to

you would not want

me here

this way

for katie by mom

~~~