Missing Her
Petite.Quiet. Unassuming.
A perfect disguise for her power.
If Jeannie was in your circle,
you had her loyalty
unquestioned and unbounded.
In the hood, her generosity
and her love of children, legend.
She championed every underdog.
From her attic window
she would scrutinize the cars,
keeping on eye on vehicles
not belonging to neighbors.
When Jeannie had your back—
I won’t reveal her actions—
but any foe had better watch their step.
In work and love
a woman thorough and creative.
More prone to revenge her friends
than to pleasing anyone,
her startling smiles
radiated through a room.
When Jeannie took her glasses off,
her openness and beauty
shone out so fine and ferocious.
I miss her electric red hair.
I miss her steadfast love.
©Susa Silvermarie 2020
To Jeannie who died of cancer at age 58 in 2011
I’ll never forget her red hair – it was electric.
I also remember her and the mural project she undertook with the kids in the neighborhood. A fine woman.
Ann Mullen
oh Annie it feels comforting that you remember her too. Her birthday is this Wed. When she got sick her sisters said she didn’t want to see me so I didn’t get to say goodbye. There’s a bench in the park in the old neighborhood dedicated to her, with her name on it. One time I went there and sat on the grass and leaned against it and cried and cried. I feel like I’m still crying.