Overcome, A Poem About Beau Biden Poem by Melody McKinstrie

What shall we overcome today?
We shall overcome the feeling of sleep,
Break free from it's hold.
Be strong and let go.

What shall we overcome today?
With a cup of coffee now in hand
The day is on it's way.
My mind is getting its first wind.

With the birds singing in the back ground.
With the TV on,
I am listening to a news program.
There are sad things being spoken of,
A funeral ceremony of a very fine man,
Whose name was Beau Biden.

On a nearly summer day,
It's morning broken
Like so many hearts on display.
I have to offer my condolences and hugs
To those who persevere
And show their strength.

A day of mundane living,
For most of us, near and far,
We can spare a moment of remembrance
For a man who had much promise
Who had much to live for
But his illness could not be overcome.

I did not know that this would be televised.
But I am glad I stopped to watch
I am in the audience
While not in attendance.
I am bearing witness
To his life's work and his goodness.

Two blocks from me is my city's church of St. Anthony,
Beau's funeral is in the St. Anthony in another state's city.
I find it comforting to think
St. Anthony is the saint presiding thusly.
Do you know his history?

St. Anthony was the son of privilege
He was from a family of wealth in Lisbon, Portugal.
He had an epiphany when young
And turned to religion.
He could have had a life of luxury
Instead he took to the life of serving
His fellow man.
Much like Beau Biden.

While we cannot overcome death,
It is our future's final act
We can overcome many things in the interim.
We can weather storms,
We can even gain strength from them.
We can keep our hearts and minds open.
And we can love.
Love is the emotion that makes this life worth living.
And for that we shall overcome.