Claire Ottenstein-Ross
Claire passed away on Friday, January 18, 2013 following a long illness. At the time of her passing she was Vice President, Program Chair and Historian. Claire was a founder and the longest continuous member of Poets Northwest. She was a prolific poet with many publications to her name, including her most recent book of poetry entitled Into the Light published by Poetry in the Arts in 2009. Her friends at Poets Northwest miss her greatly.
Angel Words
My friend has a heart
that glows with an inner light
in spite of many sorrows.
Life has brought her joys,
but sadness also cloaks her
in a veil of shadows.
Two children died at an early age,
and her only son
is handicapped for life.
Instead of bitterness,
love flows gently out to others.
Notes of hope
and letters of compassion
fly to those who need a word
of sympathy and understanding.
When my husband died,
a little card of angel words
came every day -
her way of showing that she cared.
She is a spirit-lifter,
an angel on this earth.
She only asks
that we remember others,
sharing notes of love and comfort.
Her kindness grows with each of us,
carried on the wings of angel words.
© Claire Ottenstein-Ross
For permission to publish or otherwise share this poem, please email [email protected].
that glows with an inner light
in spite of many sorrows.
Life has brought her joys,
but sadness also cloaks her
in a veil of shadows.
Two children died at an early age,
and her only son
is handicapped for life.
Instead of bitterness,
love flows gently out to others.
Notes of hope
and letters of compassion
fly to those who need a word
of sympathy and understanding.
When my husband died,
a little card of angel words
came every day -
her way of showing that she cared.
She is a spirit-lifter,
an angel on this earth.
She only asks
that we remember others,
sharing notes of love and comfort.
Her kindness grows with each of us,
carried on the wings of angel words.
© Claire Ottenstein-Ross
For permission to publish or otherwise share this poem, please email [email protected].
