rose once grew
where all could see,
sheltered beside
a garden wall,
And as the days passed
swiftly by,
it spread its branches, straight and tall...

One day, a beam of light
shone through
a crevice that had
opened wide ~
The rose bent gently
toward its warmth
then passed beyond
to the other side

Now, you who deeply
feel its loss,
be comforted ~ the rose blooms there ~
its beauty even greater now,
nurtured by
God's own loving care.
- . - , _ , .......
......... ) ` - . .> ' `( .......
........ / . . . .`.. . . .. ........
........ |. . . . . |. . .| .........
......... .. . . . ./ . ./ ...........
........... `=(.. /.=` ...........
............. `-;`.-' .............
............... `)| ... , .........
................. || _.-'| ..........
............. , _|| .._, / .........
....... , ..... ..|| .' ..............
.... |.. |.. , . ||/ ...............
, ....` | /|., |Y.., ...........
... '-...'-._....| |/ ..............
........ >_.-`Y| ...............
............. , _|| ..............
............... ..|| ..............
................. || ..............
................. || .............

Jackie Summerford
November 12, 2008