Cousin Richie (In Memorial) Poem by Luke Easter

Everyone is dealt a hand at birth,
Some are aces and all they’re worth,
Others get combinations of 4’s,2’s,3’s,
Never is the card dealing left up to you or me,

A couple weeks shy of his 42nd birthday,
My cousin started a journey going far, far away,
Although still in the hearts of family and friends,
January 12 for Richard Russell was his earthly end.

Starved of oxygen at birth that affected his walk,
Adjusting quickly, a sharp tongue he learned to talk,
Cruel speech most other children would hurl his way,
You name it, they spoke it, crip is what most had to say.

As Richie grew older the less he became dismayed,
RR could’ve stood for Rolls Royce, special everyday,
Confronted many times yet not known for backing down,
Always with his head held high is how he moved around.

I can’t count the number of times I used to wonder why,
Only to shake my head with no answer, breathing a sigh,
Of bewilderment, confusion, more questions or relief?
Robbed of his inheritance by the devil, that master thief.

His brother Rodger, mother Millie, my uncle Richard Lowe,
The family circle of love on my cousin they tried to bestow,
Sometimes even he wondered why, forever sealed was his fate?
She honored him like a Prince of Royalty, did my grandma Kate,

So much time in between then & now, fast forward to last year,
Richie and I were talking, knowing time was shifting in high gear,
For sure he had heard all of this God, Jesus and bible stuff before,
Something inside told me to mention it to him, just once more.

Confess with thy mouth; believe in your heart, it’s the only way,
God hath raised Jesus from the dead, and then thou shall be saved,
Romans 10: 9, is where to find and exactly how this scripture reads,
One final trip landing in the kingdom, bless you & may Godspeed.