At the grave of Dolores Frank (on her 100th birthday)

At the grave of Dolores Frank
(April 16, 1917-December 17, 1962)

Calvary Cemetery,

Rockville, Minnesota

For Gin Templeton, on her birthday

There was never

a question,

no what if?

There was only

a mind-numbing

acceptance

and a faith

in matters

greater than anyone

could fathom.

But we can

still hope

even now

in this strange, distant future.

We can say—

and believe—

that what was put away

here in this earth

one December day,

mourned

and missed more deeply

than anyone could even say then,

will, one morning in some

even stranger, more distant future,

escape the long, sharp

shadow of this calvary

and live

--Jamie Parsley