Rosalee
91 Years Cannot Be Summed Up in a Headstone
To the archaeologist that may dig up this grave someday,
These ashes,
In their pastel tin
Wrapped with silhouettes of lighthouses,
Were once my grandmother
A mother
Daughter
Sister
Veteran
Adventurer
Embodiment of resilience.
On the day that we
Laid her to rest
The wind in the pines
Sounded just like waves on the shore
Nearly 1,000 miles away
And the ocean arrived
To say goodbye
One last time.
So please,
Know that this grave,
This tin,
Within the minerals
That were once stardust,
And have now been interred in the earth,
Holds a woman
Whose story you will never know
And whom I am asking
You handle with tender care.
With great expectations,
A grieving granddaughter
About the Creator
S. C. Almanzar
I am a graduate student studying anthropology and have been writing creatively for almost 20 years. I love new takes on alternative history, especially when there are fantasy or supernatural elements included.
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Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insight
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Comments (4)
I love this. Well done!
Wonderful work! 😊✨ Congrats on your prize S.C!
Oh wow, that was stunning and so emotional! Congratulations ❤️
very moving