They never
Honored or
Respected her
While living
The father
Made certain

She was never
Rewarded or
Given awards
Or medals
Any such
Accolades

The only
Gold
Bestowed
Bands of vows
& Chains of
Implied
Meaning

Valued
Far less
Than than
Heartache
Incurred
Decades
Over

So why
Now
Why in
Death is
There a
Need
To honor
Respect
With
Displays
And show

She
Never
Wanted
Any of it
Always
Simply
Fighting
For freedom
Which now
Finally
She has

Ultimate
Freedoms of
All freedom
Release
From
Bonds
Banded
Chained
Symbols of
Necessity
Incurred
With
Vows

Her life
Brought
More
Required
Much more
Than she
Bargained
And now
She is
Finally free
Of all of it

Instead
Of honoring
Her service
When honor
No longer
Matters
Hasn't
For
Decades

Instead
Of respecting
Her sacrifices
When sacrifice
Is no more

Why isn't
Her
Memorial
A celebration
Of her victory
Her biggest
Success
Having
Gained
Her ultimate
Freedom

She would
Have wanted
A drunken
Soirée
With ashes
Dumped under
A great tree
Or in a big pond
Or in the ocean

Either way
I know
She is
Still here
In my mind
In my heart
My experience
And I've
No need
For me

Being there
Watching
Listening
Feeling
Everything
Unsaid
Covered
By words
Said

I've learned
I deserve
Better
Than
That

      ~Treasa Cailleach