A Timely Passing

[Lizzie]

(I'm not sure if she'll appreciate this -- for most of the family, English is not the first language. Still, it's yet another thing to offer, and I don't know how much time we have left -- such is why this is a little rushed. Critique especially welcome, not because I'm a masochist, but because, if I am offering this, this has to be at least competent.)

Driving home, the rains
foreshadowed that afternoon
by distant cracks of thunder
finall fell, as if -- Final? Finally?
to match our tears. But no! Our God
wept only once.
That night, he was rejoicing,
watering his earth, granting his creatures
new life, sweet mercy.

Tita, heaven is the canopy -- the personal address is tender and lovely
of the little grove behind
your sister's kitchen. The stars
are the blossoms of the dragonfruit trees,
the walls are the leaves, the foundations the suha fruit,
and the mansions of the hosts
the nests of the fire ants.
Cloaked in the red of bruises, you
who were once our sister, our aunt, our grandmother,
are now uplifted, are now crowned
queen of the brood, mother of Zion.

I know you've seen this before, -- I agree that it's not clear to us what she's seen before, but I'm guessing that your recipient will know.
perhaps when you were washing the dishes
after last month's fiesta, the one which celebrated
the founding of the barrio. That is why you don't weep.
That is why God chose you.

Hey RN, I think it's lovely. Something to be treasured -- it's a gift of words that not many can give.

The only thing that I would be mindful of is the admonishments against crying. Some people find the message 'don't cry' to be helpful and grounding; I would find it stifling and harsh. I think that glorifying stoicism can exacerbate someone's grief process if they need to let things out but they can't because everyone around them wants them to be "strong" or a "rock" for the family, you know? It really depends on the personality of the recipient and the place they're at with their grief.

But it's beautiful, and I say well done.