Home » Flowers For Lisa's Grave
Flowers For Lisa's Grave
Posted: Friday, December 14, 2007
by Marty RicKard
Editor's Note: Lisa died after a decade-long battle with brain cancer. A strikingly beautiful woman, she left behind two lovely daughters and the husband who had stuck with her through her illness. Lisa's parents came a few days after the funeral and made a request, which we happily granted. As I watched them painstakingly gather blossoms from our flower bed, I composed this poem, which until now no eyes but mine have seen.
Lisa's Flowers
By Marty RicKard
Lisa's mother and father
asked if they could gather blossoms
from our flower bed
for Lisa's grave
Years before her illness
Lisa had helped plant the bulbs
when she had lived in our little log cabin
before we bought it from Lisa's parents
We welcomed them
They embarked on their poignant task
Suddenly
I saw Lisa
there in the flowers of her childhood
Like a long-stemmed beauty
she swayed in the breeze
to the music of her youth
Tears diffused
her mother's vision
as she carefully selected
the perfect blossoms
Lisa brightened many lives
as flowers do
Then withered too soon
as flowers do
No blossoms on earth
could so perfectly
honor Lisa's memory as those
from the garden of her youth
So
on her grave today
lay flowers from the seeds
that Lisa's tiny hands planted
at her mother's side
in happier times
long ago
Marty RicKard Bio
Marty RicKard attended William Penn College, Iowa State University and University of Southern Mississippi, from which he holds a BS degree in journalism and photojournalism. He also has a Masters Degree in photography, in addition to the Craftsman, CPP, and A-ASP degrees. Marty spent two years as a technical writer for White Motor Company, and has worked for the Charles City Press, Mason City Globe-Gazette, and Davenport Times-Democrat. He was co-owner of the weekly New Sharon Star, where he was twice named Iowa Master Columnist for his article, which was syndicated in twenty Iowa newspapers. For more than a decade Marty's regular column appeared in the Professional Photographer magazine. He has been published in many other magazines and newspapers, including Writer's Digest, Writer Advice, Golf Digest, Resource Magazine, Picture, Range Finder, and Darkroom. In addition to his writing credits, Marty has won numerous photography awards, has lectured in 48 states, and has traveled internationally as lecturer, and judge. He was one of thirty from the U.S. to participate in the first cultural exchange with China in 1986. He currently is a regular columnist for Lens Magazine, and a full-time writer of fiction and poetry. He is the author of two poetry books and one volume of short stories. He is an entertaining speaker.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by Anonymous
4 years 36 days ago.
great poem
HI Marty, I can see that I am going to be glued to this computer entirely way to long trying to catch up on your writing. What a gift and what a blessing for the rest of us! Teresa
» left by 4 years 35 days ago.
Thank you very much for your thoughts. Best to you, Marty RicKard
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