You carried your smile

on the wings of your brows
Sprinkling bread-
crumb glitter winks
so we could all find
our way home.

Despite a fear of inadequacy

you filled our life with courage
(passed off as wisdom)
You launched us into the world
to blow boulders like feathers

We sealed our covenant

over many meals
& coffee tables
nursing with great concern
the world’s inequities
none too small
or too far from home

The world was a weight
you vowed to carry
(This was your secret!)

You were once a little girl

taught the hard way
Water won’t extinguish all fires.
So you laughed when it hurt
Screamed when you loved
(Eventually we all caught on)

You fixed in the mirror

the diamond that
would make us all
whole again
(you did it!)

We never knew

that your beauty

would be eclipsed

by your spirit.