My sister, Marlena, died.
Fate finally pulling ranks on will.
To her last days she fought
in dissension, believing she would live,
live to see her daughters, mothers,
her grandchildren growing taller than she.
We and our husbands planned
to laugh, learn, love and die old
listening to the ocean.

Omi died refusing to eat or drink,
willing to walk into the forest,
surrendering in leaves and snow,
burying untold stories.
I had not heard them all.
She was not thwarted in her plan,
to see my children growing,
to learn, love and die old,
listening to the mountains.

My step dad died instantly,
booking other trips to take
around the world with my mom.
There were always people to befriend,
wonders to see.  He was a wonder to me,
always in the midst of things,
canoeing, hiking, writing, pruning roses,
learning, loving and dying old,
listening to the birds.

I miss and hear them
listening to the sky.