Your last words:

I love you Candice

spoken softly
in your last breath

sounds poetic
but there was nothing poetic
found within my first heartbreak
because this was the reality of it
& I just wanted to here your heartbeat again


I guess
it was too much
to ask God for


because
when I awoke
drowned in my tears


my father's tears
convinced me
that miracles
could never happen
on Webster & East 8th Street


...you were gone



just as the snow
began to fall in blankets

I cried finding myself
wrapped tight in yours
attempting to survive after your death

& I did

I'm grown now


& you are still
held to high regards
in my heart

so today

I honor your birthday
& send kisses to heaven
hoping my first love
will indeed receive them



I love you Pepah


Your granddaughter,

Candice Renee'