To Katy

My great aunt, Katherine, treated me like her son.  Her death weighed heavy on my young heart.  It never really occurred to me that I knew 5 of my great grandparents and 3 were around into my mid-teens.  My mamaw cried the day I got married.  When papaw asked her why, she told him that we were so young.  He then reminded her that when she was that age, she was married with a 5 year old.

___________________

To Katy

By Scott L Vannatter

7/22/85

I wasn’t there when she passed away.

I wish I had been so that just one more time

I could tell her I love her.

–

She had treated me as her own, giving me all

and asking none.  I feel so selfish sometimes when

I think of that, and it hurts.

–

She leaves behind a great-uncle, someone who

will miss her most of all

and that hurts, too.

–

Death seems a random dictator

commanding an audience long before

all are ready.

–

I see the pain all around the parlor

and think why? She doesn’t hurt why should we?

Then I miss her smile again and once more I hurt.

–

The cemetery does not look so uninviting.

The air is clear and fresh and the flowers show

that life goes on for most if not for all.

–

They’ve dug the wrong plot?  Well, we’re all

human, and you know she would have been the first to laugh,

“Going out in style,” she would’ve said.

–

You make me angry leaving like this, unannounced.

But the hurt overcomes the anger,

and the love overcomes the hurt.

–

You can’t bury memories and so the love goes on.

I will miss you

but I will not forget.

_____________________________

Namaste,

Scott