The Memories Left Behind Poem by Jim Yerman

On the night of their grandma's funeral their Dad said,
"I think that you will find…one way to help us through her loss
is to think of the memories she left behind.

The children remembered the taste and aroma of her baking
her gentleness…how much she cared…
The adults smiled as they interrupted one another…
with the memories they shared.

It was wonderful, in a way, to see Grandma through each other's eyes…
but the memory their grandpa chose left the rest of them surprised.

"I'll remember her music." Grandpa said as he smiled wistfully.
But they all knew grandma never played an instrument,
could not dance
and always sang off key.

"Not that kind of music." Grandpa said anticipating their surprise
It was the music in her smile…the music in her eyes.

"There was music in everything she did." He smiled
"Music in the way she walked.
there was music in the way she slept
and music in the way she talked".

And as sad as they all were that night
when they closed their eyes and listened
even before their grandpa was through
somewhere in their darkness…
they could heard her music too…

Which is why whenever there is a death in their family
they always try to find
the aromas,
the tastes
and the music
in the memories left behind.