Life's river white
waters flowed over
rocks so treacherous
few survived
even fewer were willing
to take it for the whole ride

but you

You must have learned
how to
at an early age
to navigate the
roughest of terrain
to emerge into a
circular eddy
of love's refrain
around and around

You were anointed
to absorb other's pain
through the power of your empathy
all you could see was
their hallowed name
the essence of being
their spirit still remained
as you circled round
and round love's
true refrain

Routines and rituals
household shared
you invited them all in.

My wish for you
is to break free
to find another
circling
in their own eddy
of love's refrain
to hold you close
to know you more
to cherish all
those dreams you
left at the shore
before you jumped into
that river.