Gail lapsed into a coma
yesterday afternoon and died peacefully
at 12:45pm today surrounded by
her sisters, parents and friends.
When filling out a “last
wishes” form, she said she
wanted people with her who
wanted to be there, trusted
it would happen as she
wished. We believe it did.

difficult but try it – circumvent
his hugs, his overwhelming presence,
look beyond the largeness of
his size, his voice, and
yes, his past, his pain –
were I to take a
portrait I would focus on
his ring, a heavy swirl
of silver with a turquoise
stone that’s eloquent in silence

fascinating in two ways –
her name, I thought it was
supposed to be a Christian
saint’s, did she have a
special dispensation? and if so, why?
her face, a peculiar prune,
bleached white and covered
with frail fuzz – I have
no memory of what she
taught, maybe it was spelling