John Merrell, 67, of Tulsa, OK passed away  February 02, 2023. He was surrounded by his family and loved ones.

Pueblo Indian Prayer

Hold on to what is good, Even if it's a handful of earth.

Hold on to what you believe, even if it's a tree that stands by itself.

Hold on to what you must do, even if it's a long way from here.

Hold on to my hand, even if someday I'll be gone away from you.

Sitting with Death

We think death comes in quick sharp blows,

 an inhalation of breath,

and sometimes it does-

metal slapping pavement 

shattering glass 

but more often than not

 death is this waiting: a waning heart

watching daffodils rise from winter beds,

milling around June’s roses and crepe myrtles,

wondering as leaves hunt autumn’s gold

if this will be the last snowfall, or

last marker pressed into a bedside book.

And then one day it happens,

in mundane dust of afternoon,

while horses graze in the sunlight

and the hawk carves circles overhead,

without sound or scene or sudden inhalation

a door closes in a mortal room.

-Sarah Stecher, 2006

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