On Wednesday, Riley Warren, a friend of mine since childhood, died. Riley fought a nearly 20-year bout with breast cancer. I am deeply saddened by the news. The world has lost an amazing model of human experience and expression. Riley lived an inspiring life!
How do we accept, process, and heal from the loss of loved ones?
Along with crying, I tend to write as part of my healing process. And, so the poem came:
Valiant, So She Is
Sharp, Warrior Princess,
battling the beast within with quick quips,
shoot-from-the-hip attitude, and
a slew of wigs to fit her heroine moods.
Endlessly indulging her open mind,
relentlessly touching others with her expansive heart and spirit.
Riley
Persistently growing,
uncompromisingly true.
Embodied much more than what could be contained.
Valiant, so she is—
Now free, now free, ever free.
Be inspired and read on! The Sacramento Bee shares a larger perspective of Riley’s incredible life. The final paragraph is poetically perfect: Riley Warren