Negu Poem by Bill Grace

Why the pastor’s daughter died I can not tell you
Valiant Jessie at age twelve is lost to cancer
It was this style of tragedy that killed Claypool’s marriage
Took his professional life from Southern Baptist
To Episcopal trajectories
Nothing derails as much as a child’s death
Just the thought leaves a bitter taste
Where my tongue can not feel,
I have seen death before
It is not a stranger
It is part of life’s formula that will always make me rage
RAGE AGAINST GOD
But the child taught me the phrase: NEGU
“Never ever give up! ”
NEGU not a bad gift for an old man from a twelve year old
Perhaps I can re-gift it and leave it at the feet of God.