For My Sister Marilyn, brother Don and the rest

They are a breed
that leads from the heart,
carrying on
where roads were destroyed
and abandoned to wilderness
oppression, rejection

the 'normal,' or less-tested people
keep to the convention of safe paths
or retire when life implies
regression, or defeat
resigned to accept 'failure' as final
but they are a breed adversity admires,
greedily seeks out
again and again.

Laden with pain, loss, shock or impairment
they move along
willed to survive.

When tears run dry
they laugh
when hearing dies, they speak
when the voice beside them denies them answers
they turn to one who wants to work
focused in shared effort.

They are a breed that sparks up with
improvisation and impromptu
for the roughest routes

don't ask them why, how or for whom
they beat their odds
the best they can, do what they must,
is all

they always have and always will
whether or not worry lines
and scar tissue show
as they lead from the heart
love's light lasting
in their eyes.

12/19/2001