quietly,
she tells the stories
of a life once lived
of a heart twice broken
of a love thrice fulfilled

softly,
she sings the songs
of a girl once born
of a woman twice loved
of a mother thrice blessed

tenderly,
she writes the words
of a poet once inspired
of a writer twice published
of an author thrice read

once quietly she tells
twice softly she sings
thrice tenderly she writes
and four all time
we read

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