My husband John died. Verdi’s Requiem is my mirror with its pain, eminence beauty, and the loudest drums I’ve ever felt.

The picture below is from my book Anna’s Robin. The first three pages speak of a gentle sorrow and a big adventure;

Anna was leaving again,                                                                                                 Wearing her red hat high.                                                                                                    She carried an alligator purse,                                                                                             And kissed her mama goodbye.

She left but don’t moan Momma,                                                                                      Don’t moan Momma,                                                                                                         Don’t moan Momma,                                                                                                         she’ll come home soon.

Anna shrank to mouse size and hopped on her robin’s back.                                            The robin’s chest was rusty orange and her had a yellow beak.                                              And because they’d been friends for a long time,                                                                     He sang her a robin song raspy and sweet.

John’s on a big adventure, I’m the pain waiting to see him again, I’m in the beauty of memory, and I’m feeling the big drums of life of Verdi’ Requiem.  nancymauerman.com

Anna’s Robin 3