Eulogy

Words dripped without meaning when

She had no words, no way to say

And all around her listeners prayed

For when the babe would speak.

Words poured without listening when

She chattered them, we nattered when

We wished that she might learn the way

Of silence.

Words were questions, hopes and dreams

Words were more than any seemed

Words were thoughts made real and gleaned

From fields of mystery.

Words were promises she tried

To keep and nights to sleep and she

Plucked sound from trees to pour around the leaves

Of pages. Ages passed.

Words were left unread, unheard

Unknown, the flitting forest bird

Full-grown carried the leaves away

To nest. And now she rests.