She is sixteen when leukemia claims her a girl of nut-brown hair and letter sweaters the brightest star in the local firmament. She outshines her brother even in death. The church overflows onto Route 12 the April afternoon of her funeral. She leaves behind a mother, a brother, a father. Each evening the family sits at her graveside as if awaiting benediction. That summer her friends bring picnics to her grave. The red votive lamp on her headstone is always lit. It shines in easy view of the family’s kitchen window and glows warmly through blizzard, rain and star shine. Deer walk daily through the churchyard years sift down like snow. The son graduates, moves to Bradford. The father works and works and works. The mother sits by the glowing lamp. Deposit Photos Image 124351762_xl_2015.jpg
VIGIL
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9 responses to “VIGIL”
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Beautiful imagery, Cynthia.
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Beautiful poem. Sad but heartfelt.
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Remembered! Doney family.
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You remember their name. Most amazing. I had a photo of a deer in that cemetery but cannot find it. I remember seeing their three snow mobiles coming down the hill at night.
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Thank you, Suze.
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Thank you, Marti.
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The red votive lamp on her headstone is always lit.
It shines in easy view of the family’s kitchen window
and glows warmly through
blizzard, rain and star shine.I love those lines…they tell me of a love that endures through the seasons…of the caring family she leaves behind…and of the power love has to reach beyond the grave to warm a mother’s lonely heart. Such beauty in this poem. Thank you, Cindy. Love you.
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Thank you, Michael. Love. you right back.
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This is beautiful.
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A WELL TRAVELED HEART 
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