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Poems
Close Your
Eyes
Close
your eyes, and see me now.
Relax, be still and feel me near.
But a breath away, I am.
My father's
child, my mother's love forever.
Embrace, embrace - don't let go
of one another. Within your hearts,
I have my life.
You saw
seven candles, heard birthday's
song.
Rode the river past my milestones.
And held my children in your arms.
My parents'
hopes and dreams and wishes sweet.
We never know how long lives embrace.
Forgive me. I took brave steps another
way.
The gifts
we shared were precious, rare.
Love's lessons we learned in joy
and tears.
But hope and love outlasted time.
Love circling,
you held me, my hand.
I heard your words, but love spoke
loudest.
In sweet peace, I closed my eyes
- and see you now.
Soft tears.
Good-byes. And questions why?
You gave me being and loved me strong.
I made you a father and a mother
lifelong.
Speak
of me aloud.
Monkeys, choo-choos and wagon rides.
The hugs, the giggles, the smiles,
the wiggles.
And listen
quiet for my whisper.
Strength and fight. And heart of
courage.
Laughter. Joy. And life itself.
Close
your eyes, and see me now.
Relax, be still and feel me near.
But a breath away, I am.
-Julia
Ann Easley, for Ella
Written May 29, 2007
Read by Julia Ann at Ella's
Memorial Service
May 31, 2007
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To
Ella
Little
Ella, little Angel,
With eyes so blue
and smile so bright
I pray for you
with all my might
I'd rather
it me, than you little one
to endure such ill
I hope upon all our tears
That you will see many happy years
May God
guide your surgeon's hand
and return you to us safe again
to build with me a castle of sand
We love
you, Ella
-Pat
Williams
February 17, 2007
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We Cry
... I Smile
Dearest
Ella. Sweet child. The result of
a wondrous and stong love.
We cry.
We weep...
...for
the days we will miss with you.
...for the little adventures we
should have taken.
...for the discoveries we could
have made together.
...for the laughter, the stories,
the promise.
We cry.
We weep...
...for
what were your accomplishments to
be, and the kisses we will never
get.
...for the aching in your parents’
hearts,
and
the longing of their arms to hold
you again,
healthy, strong, well.
But Ahhhhh,
Ella, I smile
... I
smile at the thought of your beautiful
sweet laughter. At the joy of seeing
you as you were. Happy to sit and
play with water. At how you smiled
and even chuckled to see photos
of my children,
even
as you yourself were feeling low.
I smile at the pleasure you gave
to those who loved you with all
their being,
even
if only for a short while.
Reluctantly,
Ella, and oh-so-unwillingly, we
let you go. Your memory with us
forever.
We will
meet again. We will have that chance...
Fly with
love, dear sweet fairy-child.
- Laura Ghiron
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Alone
I am the
hot sun reflecting on a sparkling
lake
I am a light bulb in a lone child's
mind
I am close, yet so far away
I am the song you're sung to sleep
with
I am the child of your dreams and
worst nightmares
I am the black cat that loves to
play
I am the loneliness of an only child
I am a rainbow, yet I am the moon
I am the money that will come soon
I am the teddy bear you hug so close
I am the traveler, yet I try not
to boast
I am the cousin that I loved so
dear
I wish
I wish that you were still here
I wish
I wish that you were still near
I hope
I hope you will come back somehow
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye, just for now
- Tanika McKinley (Ella's Cousin)
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Writings
To All
Those Who Pass This Way Today
To
all those who pass this way today,
let it be known that our dear Ella
– daughter, granddaughter,
niece, cousin, friend, music lover,
bacon authority, vernal pool expert,
and little mommy to Gigi and Gossie
– is, and forever will be,
so loved by all.
We reach
out to her, to her parents, Tom and
Shannon, on this beautiful spring
day, the kind that holds the promise
of a walk to the park, of a romp with
Jolie and Pierre, just an otherwise
ordinary spring day, full of discoveries
and havoc yet to be made.
To all those
who pass this way today, let it
be known that Ella is an enchanting
child with dimples that protect
a sweet smile and a silly, infectious
laugh, who is blessed with strawberry
locks and sparkling eyes that often
turn playfully mischievous with
one swift sideways glance.
We gather here
today to be with Ella, to be with
her loving parents, who are amazingly
strong, amazingly resilient caregivers
on this painful, poignant, passionate
journey as it draws to an end.
To all those
who pass this way today, let it
be known that Ella, despite her
illness that deprived her of years,
but not of the joy of living, patiently,
and not so patiently, endured months
of treatment that could not conquer
her cancer but failed to defeat
or even diminish her courage or
her character.
On this beautiful
spring day, when Ella should be
out pushing a series of naked dolls
all named Gigi around in their little
stroller, she is comforted by the
companionship of her best Gossie
goose and all the love in the world.
To all those
who pass this way today, we ask
you to remember the strength of
a little girl, the love of her parents,
of all the little things that made
Ella the special child that she
will always be.
-
Pam Slater
May 2007
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Album Insert
Lyndhurst
Rd.
by
the Holliston Stops
(CD
art & dedication for Ella)
(click
to view) 2-page Acrobat pdf
This album
insert is from the CD: Lyndhurst
Rd. by the Holliston
Stops, a band who has had their
lives touched by the unexpected losses
of both Ella and another girl named
Ruby. The band started a fund in Ella's
name to support pediatric cancer research.
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