Poem from Jakob to me, written by Gentzy, our oldest son, who was almost 4 years old when his little brother died

 Hi Mom//

You look good from up here, Mom

In this celestial sphere

Where through 

My glass-bottom boat

I’ve watched your hair grey

I liked it red,

I like it grey, too

Let your roots go, like me

You’re getting older

And wiser

And yet, 

You’re the same as I remember

My

I’m surrounded by light

You’re right

I won’t tell you about God

The Truth will make you smile

And I don’t want to ruin it

Your belief in Him is sincere

And pure

And tethers me to you

Gentzy though? 

He’s in for a surprise

But he likes surprises,

So he will smile too.

My eyes are blue now,

I think you already knew

Those long-ago blessings

pronounced on my tiny head

Of healing and patience 

They remain

Beyond my deathbed

Your hopes and dreams

Live on in me

In unimaginable ways

I thank you

And every good man

Who laid his hands on my head

Every good woman who held you

While you cried

Every meal

Every hug

I carry them with me, still 

Your plans and dreams for me

Seem like dreams now

Even as they unspool

And high school?

I’m laughing about that one

I’m a Franz after all

There’s a chance 

It would not have been my bag

In these ethers, I call home

An eternal school

A space without space

Or time, 

Is familiar

Like family 

It feels like a constant snuggle pile

With Johnny, 

Maggie

Kari

Gentzy

From dusk to dawn

A never-ending pile of gifts

Where each box holds 

A verse of our family’s song

I sing along

You laugh

We begin again

And again.

The end was a beginning

The way it’s always been.

I miss you Mom

I love you

- Jakob

Written by Gentzy

Feb 15 2025