She used to smile wide and reveal an orange rind
her long hair—grey and straight—gently hanging down her spine
She'd make us laugh—bringing light to an ordinary day
And when my throat scratched and cough rumbled through my say
she'd sneak me a bit of whiskey to take my misery away—
She would call me when my 'wee lad' stood at the side door
And wiggle her teeth to make me smile once more
She used to live boldly through her life
then one unremarkable day—her breath took her away
—a faint memory from an earlier life, that for a moment,
moved my thoughts and opened my heart
—on this random, windy, summer day.