Damnit death

Why do you come so swiftly

In a short 90 plus years of life

And still it cuts so deeply

Like they happened over night

Why so unfair, and unprepared

You shock us with your sting

Why is it so unexpected

Days and hours crumble in a blink

Plans & arrangements fumbled together

Suddenly life feels so surreal

For everyone this day will come but not one can fathom how it will feel

Why so many questions left unanswered

And stories left untold

Acceptance, transition remains equally difficult no matter young or old

How do we go on without them

What is life this way

How do we live our lives the same when from here they’ve gone away

How drastic it changes our vibrant song

To a mournful weeping cry

The pain won’t last too long they’ll say

With their hopeful encouraging eyes

But the truth is a piece of my joy left with you

Joy born in your sunrise

And on the day that your sunset

That joy escaped me with my cries.

Now there's new joy I hope to have

Full joy some day real soon

And it might not come till a year from now

or just a second, or every blue moon

But Damnit death

You agile one, so quick and spry and ageless

You’re powerless to my memories

Those moments God gave were gracious.

What you took from me was only physically

I ask “Where, O death, is your sting?”

‭A piece of my Joy now rest in eternity; “where, o death is your victory.”

In memory of Odessa Rolland with prayers for peace to those who had privilege to know her light.