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by Denny Lancaster
240126
In the closing hour, when he rounded
the bend along the rock laden hill,
her white figure from the earth bounded,
circling the earth, hushed and still,
with wings soaring the sky surrounded
on one side, the deep passion and chill
upon the other, heaven's rosary in the sky,
with one lone star sparking as an eye.
And thus he wandered forth, over land,
over shining souls and pebbles and shells,
guided by the wind smoothing the sand,
and in a human heart gilded receptacles
formed a great work and formed a plan
in empty rooms, hallways and some cells,
one by one they turned, clasped an arm,
and yielded to his heavenly charm.
A long embrace, fond memories of love,
and beauty, all concentrating like rays
into once focus, kindled from above;
Such love belongs from those early days,
where heart, and soul in concert move
and in glory beheld, pulse like a blaze,
each salutation bonded in heavenly strength,
we think, it must be reckoned by length.
By length, we mean duration, her's endured
heaven knows how long, no doubt was reckoned;
And if anyone had said twas not secured,
the sum of the reality in heaven to a second:
For the angels had spoken, but felt allured,
as they with her each soul the other beckoned,
which, being joined, like good seed they clung
and with hearts and good deeds her bounty sprung.
Now her soul is in heaven, on earth so beloved,
all that it hath in life with family still living;
So gentle her life all who met her were moved,
and all in conscious living the joy of her giving;
Because she hath felt, given, passed and proved,
hushed into depths beyond the watch now dividing;
There the body lies on earth with all its errors,
but in death her soul is in heaven, without terrors.
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Footnote: Elizabeth (McCusker) Howe, Born in Blackwatertown, County Armagh Northern Ireland on April 23, 1912. She was a nurse in Belfast, when she met her husband Kenneth, when he was
wounded during WWII. They married April 27, 1946 when she moved to the USA. She was naturalized on July 8, 1952 in Kewanee Illinois. She lived there from her arrival in 1946 until 1973, when she
moved to Arizona and lived until the present time. She is married to Kenneth Howe and she has 3 sons, Bernard Howe of Mesa Arizona, Kenneth N. Howe of Phoenix Arizona, and Patrick Howe of Peoria
Arizona. She has 5 grandchildren-1 in Virginia, 1 in Armagh Ireland, 1 in Vermont, and 2 in Phoenix, She has 3 great grandchildren living in Virginia. She was a member of the St. Jerome's Catholic
Church. She was proceeded in death by both her parents, 2 brothers, 1 sister, and 1 son. Visitation will be held 5-8pm Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at Chapel of the Chimes, 7924 N. 59th Avenue,
Glendale with a 7pm Rosary. Funeral Mass will be held at 10am, Thursday, January 29, 2004 at St. Jerome's Catholic Church.
Published in the Arizona Republic on 1/27/2004.
These three poems are about the parents of Bernard
Howe.
A Nurse-Bernie's Mom.
My Father.
Bernie's Mom.
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