the singing from her

 Katie

there is a melody to the universe

that our lives might jam with with the sounds of our being,

many do well using their lives, their actions, their words

to contribute parts of the song, fragments of the melody,

some people’s lives express more

of that elemental rightness than others:

a trueness to self,

a seeing and recognizing the other,

a seeing and recognizing the underlying music

with the right humor, the right words,

maybe building the structures 

to allow the musicians, the grouping,

to be able to continue to play,

Katie, that is who you are:

you have made all of us better 

through our connections with you,

despite how what you have gotten back

compares with what you have given,

so that you feel more consumed then re-energized,

how wonderful that you can now give more back

to yourself, to your family,

to letting the well of your love fill back up,

the melody is always there,

and we all seek to harmonize with it,

thank you for your singing at school,

and may you sing well and surely with the others

around the campfire of your family.

by Henry H. Walker

March 20, ‘21