Soul of Steel

Copyright © March 17th, 2001 by Richard J. Sereday Jr.
All rights reserved

A "Soul of Steel",
that is what she had, 
that is what she was to me,

with a heart of gold, 
shining brightly, 
brighter than bright.

Will to live, to love,
to share, to be.

Never a stranger did she know,
without giving the gift
that was her smile.

Always a smile, 
for one and all,
from her heart, 
from her soul.

The smile that hides the pain,
the world will never know.

Health of the dying, 
slowly, day by pain filled day.

Slowly, painfully dying, 
year by month, 
by week by weakness,

till there was no more 
life left to die.

Body of pain, 
deteriorating, 
disintegrating, 
retrogressive.

Life's breath of life, 
to breathe the air, 
less and less, 
with each breath.

Gasping, 
grasping'
for the breath,
harder each one came, 

until the last, 
it was just too hard,
the time, 
it was at hand.

And I felt her spirit 
brush past mine
as upon high 
it did ascend.

A tear of sorrow 
ran down my cheek, 
shed for the loss 
of a mother and a friend,

and a tear of joy 
ran down my cheek, 
shed for the end to 
all her pain she left behind.

And the world lost 
a beautiful person 
on that day,

but her smile, 
it still shines on 
in my mind,
and her memory 
still fills my soul.

She taught me 
of courage,

she taught me 
of strength, 

and taught me
to hide my pain 
behind a smile.

And for the teaching 
and for the love,
I take this opportunity to say,
thank you Mom, and Happy Birthday.


March 17th, 1937 to May 2nd, 1991