#212

Tonight, amid tears,
I stood by Kylie,
holding onto the 
sage bundle,
which brought me 
comfort, as I said goodbye
to her dad;
she wearing his worn,
brown leather bundle, 
kissed my hand and patted 
the intricately carved box 
with his ashes, 
(emulating an act by my sister, Lisa,
for my own father a decade ago),
surrounded by beautiful artifacts
commemorating the chief's life,
a sense of peace enveloping me.

catherinenglish 07-31-2013 (revised 08-02-2013)

(My thanks to Fran Kaye for the advice to hold onto the bundle).