Today is my brother’s birthday. He would have been 53. To remember him, I’m sharing the letter I wrote to him for his funeral, but in re-reading it six years after his death, I realize again that I remember him now more with joy at what was than sadness about what will never be. What a gift to me, on his birthday.
Dear Steve,
You left us too soon.
We remember your smiles and wacky good times,
outrageous nicknames and ridiculous rhymes,
tears and hugs and practical jokes.
You left us too soon.
You were good with your hands, which always seemed full:
a golf club, fishing pole, hammer or tool -
or a lighter held high at a concert.
You left us too soon.
Our memory banks are full of “Steve Stories”:
some scrapes, some accidents, some outright glories.
vivid or fading, they're now all we have.
You left us too soon.
More images of you flood into our minds:
shared losses, celebrations, other ties that bind,
the births of your daughters, the loves of your life.
You left us too soon.
You joined this world in ’66 on a cold day in November,
and brought us together today to remember.
We love you and honor the time you were with us,
But -
You left us too soon.
See you over the rainbow -
Love,
Kim
Heartbreaking. Reading your earlier (and later) poems about your brother, I was hoping that he hadn’t committed suicide..So I read on through the chain and I now see that my worst fears were true. I am so sorry for your loss…shedding tears over them now. What a happy boy he was…as revealed through your photographs. So glad you can remember those happy times!!!!!
Judy, thank you so much for reading them all. That is so thoughtful, and you have no idea how meaningful your tears are to me. I think you must be an empath. I’m glad about the happy times, too – they are truly a gift and I cherish them.