After / Before
Love is the only real thing
After the beeping stopped
The monitors off
The team gone
After the belabored breathing
The heaving
The oxygen turned off
The circle of us singing
Grieving
Hands held
Had dropped
Crumpled in my sadness
Opened untethered
Uncertain reeling
Tears streaming
I stopped
Lightness crept into me
The sorrow of your leaving
Paused long enough
For me to breath in
An epiphany
The pain I am feeling
Is in fact JOY
Wings beating
You’re free
As she should be
Elisabeth Liesle Liz Lizzy Mama Baca
We release thee
We release thee.
We release thee.
We needed these days and weeks
We had to see you hurting
I am so sorry, we were not thinking
We were reflexes in keeping
Still believing we needed you to keep breathing
As though we needed you so the very air would flow freely.
But no, We don’t need you more than you need the relief
You’ve given all there is to be given
There is so much meaning still to be gleaned.
Ever the teacher, we still needed you to lead
Dearly beloved, gathered here,
We are your present offering
The remains of your being
We just have to keep feeling
The love that you embodied
Quietly, And shared so generously
with all who were able to receive it.
You never named it or took any credit
But your were a beacon
We are all the recipients
of your wordless teaching:
Love is the only real thing
We love you Mama
Be free Be free Be free