The Rose Still Grows

The Rose Still Grows Beyond the Wall

Near shady wall a rose once grew,
Budded and blossomed in God's free light.
Watered and fed by morning dew,
Shedding its sweetness day and night.

As it grew and blossomed fair and tall,
Slowly rising to loftier height,
It came to a crevice in the wall,
Through which there shone a beam of light.

Onward it crept with added strength,
With never a thought of fear or pride;
It followed the light through the crevice-length,
And unfolded itself on the other side.

The light, the dew, the broadening view,
Were found the same as they were before;
And it lost itself in beauties new,
Breathing its fragrance more and more.

Shall claim of death cause us to grieve,
And make our courage faint or fall?
Nay, let us faith and hope receive;
The rose still grows beyond the wall.

Scattering fragrance far and wide,
Just as it did in days of yore,
Just as it did on the other side,
Just as it will forever more.

A friend gave me this poem, which she had framed, on the day of Alexa's funeral. She found it the day after Alexa passed, and it just hit home, for her and for me.



The Rose - in all it's glory

A coworker, a friend, bought roses for everyone that is in our department. As a way to show her sympathy to all of us, for losing Alexa. Alexa, and everything she went through, has touched everyone. Whether they were close to her, or just coworkers, everyone has felt this loss. The roses were delivered on Jan 24, the day after she passed. And mine is still blossoming. Thriving. The picture was taken today, on Feb 8, and as you can see - it is beautiful. And so amazing. When it was given to me, I removed any leaves that was on it, and I placed it in my bottle of water. On the day of Alexa's funeral, my Mom noticed the leaves that were growing back. You can't quite see them in the picture, but if you look closely at the top of the bottle - you can see them sticking out. I feel that this is Alexa's doing - showing me that she is a rose - and that she is blossoming like never before on the other side of the wall. More beautiful, more radiant than life could ever imagine. I feel her presence, and due to that, it has been hard for me to grasp the fact that she is gone. Because - she is not gone, and she never will be truly gone.

She lives in my heart, as well as in the hearts of so many. And it was her soul that was so strong, not her body. That is why she is still felt.