I first met June when we moved to North Carolina in the
fall of 1999, under some due stress from family
problems she became my therapist. I liked June right
off the bat as she has the same weird sense of humor I
do. Kind of scary when you think patient, therapist
both nuts. But she was a good woman and a funny woman,
two of my favorite things. She took me in like a step
child and never looked back. June has this thing that
she can't write well and I have read several poems
she's written that blew me away. One is now posted on
my web site and the other is being made now. June
looks inside my head and reads the messages that I
send, she never has to ask twice. She knows me almost
as well as I know myself. I took a trip to Destain
Florida and took some pictures not knowing that she was
writing a poem about me. It was uncanny how the
pictures I had taken match word for word her poem. I
have had so many people ask me which was done first the
poem or the pictures. Now she has written a
"Remembering" me poem for me that made me cry all
night. I miss her and I love her like a sister and I
pray all good things come to her as she deserves it.
And no June, there will never be another me and you
fall on your knees and say "THANK GOD"
I love you dear lady and hope to see you again.
Your favorite psychotic.
Kathalise
Remembering
I remember when you told me.
I remember your tone and your words
When you told me about it.
I remember what you said and the way you said it.
I remember hearing you tell me about the beast,
And the plan to capture and kill it.
I remember your determination.
I remember your hope.
I remember the way you smiled
When you left my office that day,
Just like so many days before
And so many days after.
I remember the exact curve of your mouth;
The way it spelled LIFE,
In big, wide capital letters
Underlined and written in bold print.
I remember when you left that day.
I remember thinking about that monster
And almost laughing to myself as I thought
How just maybe the beast had finally met his match!
I remember praying that was true.
Praying that for you. Praying that for Jason.
Praying that for Paul and Michael.
And praying that for those babies who shared that smile.
I remember intruding into your space back then
And praying that for June, too; the selfish one
Who was and is so sure she never remembers
Nor will she ever remember anyone quite like you.
I remember watching you over time.
I remember the way you have walked with
Your head always held high, daring the sun
To pose a shadow on your path.
I remember the laughs and the cries
And the funny jokes and the not-so-funny jokes,
All taking on a life of their own to teach
Your lessons of life and love and dignity.
I remember how hard it is sometimes to
Remember big and small things in life.
And then I remember how impossible it is
Not to remember you.
I remember your wit and your smile
And your rough softness.
I remember all the important things
Knowing you has taught me.
I remember thinking about the time
When you will make the choice not to stay;
And I remember that even then, in my memory,
In the eyes and smiles of your babies,
you can never leave.
I remember the feeling of elation and gratitude
For that revelation, that epiphany.
And I remember how thankful I am that always,
in this life and beyond,
I have been given the gift to remember you.
To KathaliseÉÉ. comic, poet, friend and teacher, ÉÉÉ
With love and gratitudeÉÉ..JBug