You ATL folks know who I'm talking about.

[Tony Radford]

Aimee

It all begins – a group of friends – a trip in early May
to a launching ledge at river’s edge where locals come to play.

She took in hand the line that spanned the rushing, blue-divide,
prepared for flight – she held on tight to reach the other side.

She took the leap and raised her feet – the line began to dip
and as she flew, it broke in two – then Aimee lost her grip.

First a splash and then a gash from gagged rocks below –
a rush of pain – a river stained as blood began to flow.

A path was made to Aimee’s aid and friends would pull her free,
then off they fled to Tanner Med – a dire emergency.

The team on call would fix it all with staples, tape and gauze,
but when the pain refused to wane – they had to find the cause.

Soon they’d learn the big concern – not lacerated skin,
it’s not about what’s flowing out – but what was flowing in.

An enemy too small to see – in water far from pure,
she’d have to fight its appetite – but Aimee would endure.

A vigil kept while Aimee slept was manned by all she knew
and in would pour a thousand more to pray she’d make it through.

Just like stone on flesh and bone, the demon took its toll,
despite its run and damage done – it never reached her soul.

Incidents of bad events can bring us close to death
and rescue teams might need machines to help us take a breath.

It just might be – the soul breaks free as darkness starts to fall,
prepared for flight towards the light – to answer heaven’s call.

But some will find it isn’t time – they still have chores to do,
it’s then they’ll learn they must return and see their mission through.

Her strength and drive are touching lives in numbers sure to grow,
a shining-light who’s prone to fight – with courage few will know.

It’s hard to cite that Aimee’s plight is part of God’s own plan,
the burden placed and what she’s faced since all this first began.

That fateful day in early May when Aimee took a fall,
a Georgia girl would show the world – why heaven didn’t call.

Everything happens for a reason……
Just believe.

[theboppshop]

Whew!! Very powerful words for a strong soul and spirit named Aimee!

Thanks for sharing, Tony.

Garry

[Tony Radford]

Garry, got to hand it to her - what an attitude!

[Cobrajose]

You should publish this!...and much more.

[Tony Radford]

Thanks Joe, I'll be cutting it loose in a new book probably this weekend - along with this one I did the other day in tribute to my mother in law.

No Yesterday

She woke every morn like the day she was born
with no knowledge of prior events,
she couldn’t recall Sunday’s trip to the mall –
or the flowers her granddaughter sent.

Like an angel she slept, but nothing was kept,
her memories fizzled away,
none would remain – all her joy and her pain
would only exist for a day.

Her kids were all grown, so she sat all alone
in the house that they built long ago
and one day a week I’d drop by – kiss her cheek,
oh how that old woman would glow.

Talking to me over cookies and tea,
she’d drift back to earlier years,
her life as a girl in a whole different world,
touring photos that brought her to tears.

How bright she would shine during “old movie time”
as she rode with the lows and the highs,
though the same one would play three or four times a day,
the ending would be a surprise.

Thirsty for news, but always confused
had a hard time remembering names,
except one she knew since before World War Two,
a dashing young fellow named James.

She’d spent all her life as an army man’s wife –
never hungry for fortune or fame,
when an unhealthy heart caused her man to depart,
she never would be quite the same.

With every new day she slipped further away,
until finally her past disappeared,
away they all went – every treasured event,
the moment that everyone feared.