I went to a party, And remembered what you said. You told me not to drink, Mom, so I had a sprite instead. I felt proud of myself, The way you said I would, that I didn’t drink and drive, though some friends said I should. I made a healthy choice, And your advice to […]

In Flanders Fields (First published on December 8, 1915) In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, […]

Let me be the soul If you, the body Let me be the heat If you, the Sun Let me be the rainbow If you, a tear Let me be the world Where you would love to wander Let me be the aura If you, the smile Let me be the melody If you, the […]

Death Is Nothing At All Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room. I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name; speak to me in the easy way that you always used. Put […]

Love for the sake of loving. Give for the sake of giving. Allow people to be right. Give them space to be where they are. Let them be exactly as they are. Do not criticize, children, adults, Or any other living thing…including yourself. Remember life is not a game. It is just life. There are […]

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Tampa, Florida, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value. When the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found a poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to […]

Not so long ago I inherited some things from my parents. Tucked away in what was obviously a special box my mother kept, I found several untitled poems in my now deceased sister’s, Cindy James, handwriting (there is no reference to the author of the poems—had Cindy created them?) Here is one of the poems: […]

Poem for Loss by Josie O’Brien My darling as I hold you near, my heart is aching so. I know that you must go away. It is something we both know. Acceptance is the hardest part of knowing I’ll remain. For I know that when you’re free at last, I will cry with heartfelt pain. […]

Now that I am gone, remember me with smiles and laughter. And if you need to cry, cry with your brother or sister who walks in grief beside you. And when you need me, put your arms around anyone and give to them what you need to give to me. There are so many who […]

Don’t grieve for me, for now I am free. I’m following paths God made for me I took his hand, I heard him call… Then turned, and bid farewell to all. I could not stay another day To laugh, to love, to sing, to play. Tasks left undone must stay that way I found my […]