I found the surprise
You left for me
In my journal
While I was in one of your
favorite restaurants
The place with the
cheesy eggs and cookies
shaped like hearts
I stumbled across it
While searching for
words like fool’s gold
In a river, sifting and sifting
and there it was
A golden nugget
A treasure
You would have called it
Your name written backwards
YELIR, a trident for a Y
And a picture you drew
of yourself
your right arm up in the air
as if to say goodbye or hello.
Dedicated In Loving Memory to
July 28th, 2004 – March 7th, 2011
© 2011
The Juice Bar 
Chanel, it’s hard to express in words how your writing makes me feel, it is so deep & honest & real. Thank you for sharing your experience with Jack Grapes class & with The Juice Bar. My love to you and your family in the wake of your loss. You are a very gifted poet, keep writing for all of us. Lisa
What a beautiful gems you’ve created from the depths of your sorrow.
Thank you for this special gift.
My love to you and your family.
xoxo
Roz
The semiotics of your souls , and given freely! Aside from the self- gleaning -self, this is a pure gift as we all learn to “sift ” through the dark rivers.
Thank you
Marcus
stirring
deeply touching
MK
What you have done with the heart break of a loss your son Riley in words and the courage to do that work to honor him, is gift to all of us. To Jack’s class, your family and friends. And really all those you don’t know who will read your work. Thank you.