Happy  Heavenly Birthday  Winter!

I wrote a poem back when I was a kid for winter and hope so I thought I would share it with y'all for her birthday.  

Winter and Hope are so lovely and smart, they swim through the water with a lovely heart. Splish and splash with their favorite toy, splashing as happy as can be.squeaking and splashing as they move through the water playing in the bubbles with a lovely heart. Squeaking and shouting as the water flows drinking the water while it flows. I like Winter and Hope

I still don't really feel like her passing has sunk in. In school I was feeling sad. I decided to write a poem for winter even though I have tried writing a poem I never could get the hang of it. I don't know what happened but the words just came to me. I want to share it with everyone in hope to heal some broken hearts and bring comfort to all grieving for winter. I named the poem "Tweet" After Winters nickname tweety bird. Love you my friend.

Chips that fill the air, Tweety bird are you there

Your sweet sound in the air, give me comfort anywhere

But that one day when the chirping stopped my heart began to drop

Time came to a halt as my world tore apart

As my life took a tole, I fell down a rabbit hole

The dolphin, just like me, came down and rescued me

Broken that I was you came and made me one

As your birthday nears even though you're not here

I celebrate and keep you close because you’re the one who matters most

In heaven I know you are, flying with your well-earned wings

Still, you left behind something

The hearts you made, the lives you’ve changed

Your legacy shall live on for no one is truly gone

For still I hear your chirping sounds, reminding me you're always around.

When I was about 7, my dad showed me Dolphin Tale and would pull up on the internet the live webcams of Winter. I sit there and watch her for hours! The following year I went to go see Winter and Hope in person at CMA and let me tell you, when I looked into her eyes, you could see the kindness and understanding in them. She made an impact on me and to this day I will never forget her. Now, I'm 15 years old and just rewatched the Dolphin Tale movies and got to wondering what Winter was up to. I looked on the webcams and I couldn't find her in the pools like I typically could. Then, I typed in her name at the search bar at the top of the website, and there was a headline that said "Remembering Winter: 2005-2021". When I read that, my heart broke. I love Winter. She was a true inspiration to all. One day, my kids won't meet Winter like I got to, but I will make sure they know her as the inspiration she truly was and how great of a legacy is that. To be an inspiration.  

                                         Taylor G. Shepherd, Houston, Texas