Breadcrumbs On Her Grave Poem by Jim Yerman

She loved visiting her grandma…at Grandma's everything just seemed right…
She especially loved those times she got to spend the night.

Because as she grew she began to find comfort in the wisdom of Grandma's words…
Her favorite moments were sitting under the stars…and in the morning…feeding the birds.

"Sometimes when you're not here I get lonely." Grandma said in a sad but hopeful tone.
"But when I talk to the stars or visit with the birds…I don't feel so alone."

At night Grandma would point up…then squint…looking through one eye
and teach her the names of the stars…her friends up in the sky.

In the morning once the two of them had rolled out of their beds
Grandma would introduce her to the birds in her backyard as they fed them crumbs of bread.

She was remembering these moments as they left the house for Grandma's funeral…
"Wait! I'll only be a minute." She said
then she ran back in the house and came out with a loaf of bread.

When the funeral was over…she gave her Grandma a tearful wave..
then began to sprinkle bread crumbs gently around her grave.

"What are you doing? " Her mother whispered…coming up behind her.
"Sprinkling bread crumbs, Mom." She said. "So the birds know where to find her."

"The bread will bring her friends the birds…of this I have do doubt.
The birds will keep her company during the day…until the stars come out."

As she leaned against her mother she said…in a sad but hopeful tone…
"This is the best way I can think of…so Grandma will never be alone."

To this day when she visits…
she still gives her Grandma a wave…
then as she's done so many times…
she sprinkles breadcrumbs on her grave.