Elegy for RSR
8/1956 – 4/1971
Her departure began in late 1970.
The crisp Wisconsin fall gave way to dreary days.
Low hanging clouds threatened snow.
Bitter winds pierced loose woven sweaters.
Families retrieved heavy coats from their storage places.
They abandoned their screen porches with wicker sofas.
Most settled into cozy indoor rooms.
They turned on lamps to dispel the gloom of dark rooms.
A child of fourteen, perched on the cusp of becoming more.
Her brief summer died and the darkness crept forward and consumed her.
She escaped to the last sun rays on the porch.
They offered no warmth even with her heavy coat.
She found her winter cave under the wicker sofa.
Escaped to that hiding place, where I found her.
Escaped from the even darker corners the lamps did not reach inside the house.
Tried to escape the dark corners where the monster hid.
She told her mother about the monster.
Her mother said don’t tell, no worthy prince will come your way.
Her mother took her away from the monster.
She took her away in the dark of winter.
Dark winter descended with consequences from that day.
March and April brought no sunshine, no hope of escape.
She found the monster’s gun–and used it on herself.
Fifty years ago, they all are gone now.
Naked Soul Thoughts 