we didn’t bury her

i need my children to know
that we didn’t bury her

of course she is buried
but we didn’t bury her

their sister is all around them —
our walls, clothes, prayers, candles, and blankets

i need my children to know
that their sister is alive through us, through them

she breathes in our breaths
and loves in our own loving

i need my children to know
we did not bury her

she is silently near
and holding us as closely
as we are holding her