SHE WAS THE RAREST OF US
Her footsteps disappeared from the path,
the last ones, barely perceptible,
had fully existed just moments before,
where did she go,
the dancing girl with the golden hair,
who poured magic into spaces
full of voids and chasms,
who wrote poems of hope,
dreamt big expansive dreams,
gave precious gifts
to those often forgotten,
shared her brave voice
to seek a cure,
she was the rarest of us,
we humans searching for life’s meaning,
getting lost in the fog,
turning corners only to become confused
again and again,
tripping on rocks, slipping on ice,
losing our way,
our dismay that she has gone
will remain, yet,
the dancing girl with the golden hair
showed us the way,
leaving us in the fog of heartbreak
while still shining a light on the path,
so we may walk forward in her footsteps,
bearing hope in her name.
Written in memory of Alea Ramsey, May 26, 2005- January 28, 2024
Alea began Bearing Hope in 2020 with the mission of bringing joy, hope and support to kids fighting cancer in Ohio and to raise awareness for Childhood Cancer.
Photo by Susan DeGraaf
Just Poetry and Prose 
Oh, Rita, what a beautifully tender and hope-filled tribute!
Alea, was such a inspiration throughout her short but incredibly profound life.
Such a beautiful tribute to Alea’s strong spirit. ❤️
Thank you. She was the embodiment of strength. Her good works will continue for many years into the future. What a blessing she was.
Beautiful writing, a deep gorgeous tribute to a perfectly formed child who has inspired me from a distance via word of mouth from others. May her work long continue. We grow, consciously, or more often not, through such extraordinary people’s presence on our planet, whether their time with us is long or short.
Thank you. I agree that we have all grown in intangible ways by being around her and learning from her. The lessons will continue.