April 18: She Died at Age 97

She died at age 97, nearly blind and ready

to go, greatest generation school teacher,

church founder, mother of three, energetic

until the very last few years, dedicated

to service and the idea that the real enemy

is to do nothing, so she stayed busy even 

in the retirement home, leading classes,

looking after those worse off than she,

sending meticulously handwritten notes

of thanks and concern and condolence,

understanding in her bones that life is

hard but that’s life and we do our best

no matter what, not so much with a song

in our hearts but with steel in our eye

and a fierceness of purpose and resolve.

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