FOR RUTH( A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE) AND ALL THE 'RUTHERANS'.
The swan sung, a quietude so plaintive,
Oceans picked it up and whipped it to shores afar,
Details of humility of a guarantee soldier,
Robed in tons of tones of resilience,
From ages of flower tribes peripheral tirades,
Being seen and unheard,
Toys for boys and casualties of love,
To tangle with law, time spoke nefarious displeasure of elders,
Didn't stop dear Ruth from toppling the dominant dominos of her time,
Coming first didn't guarantee an easy entry into the sure herd of biased minds,
But tutorials and homage to learning added a feather to an angel on a mission,
A flower bloomed large and bright and hard as steel,
An era made for a passionate advocacy of right light,
Who can make music to a musician who sung, played and danced to a tune of chipping rocks to flatten old curves.
Who can write an epitaph made from the stars before a baby was born.
Who can light a candle on a soul who in life was the sun for an entire specie's.
We mourn flesh as its meant to be,
But a joy bubbles out from all the 'Rutherans' who with ease reach for the mellow fruits from an old gnarled tree,
With trembling sorrow wrapped with praise we sigh with the wind of change now rested from a race well run,
An epic soul floats in successive generations diploma papers and legal pads ready for war,
For each battle Ruth fought and won,
Is a marker and a tool to spur resilience and resolve ahead,
So yes, this morning mourns as flesh must tend to do to flesh,
But richer is the heritage that across the divide of living,
A legacy stands tall and proud for the dare of a soul,
That saw opportunity and not mountains,
So go with a waltz into this goodnight sweet guardian angel,
Our tears water the wind bearing you back to sunrise,
Where wisdom of your birth and mission,
Shall form the foundations of where tomorrow shall build its Castle. 
We are richer for the scars of your battles and wars.
Adieu Ruth!

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Nancy Ndeke is a multi-genre writer. She writes poetry, hybrid essays, reviews, commentary and memoir. Ndeke  is widely published with four collection of her full writings Soliama Legacy, Lola- Logue , Musical Poesy  and May the Force be With you. She has recently  collaborated with a Scotland-based Writer  and Musical Artist,  Dr. Gameli Tordzro of Glasgow University on the Poetry Collection Mazungumzo ya Shairi, and  also  co-authored the poetry anthology , I was lost but now am found with USA Poet Renee Drummond  -Brown . She contributes her writings to the Atunis  Galaxy Poetry ( Belgium), TUJIPANGE AFRICA( Kenya, USA), Ramingo Porch, Africa Writers Caravan , WOMAWORD Literary Press, BeZine  for Arts and Humanities( USA), Andinkra Links 5,  Wild Fire Publication, Williwash Press, The poet by day webzine, Writers Escape at Poetry, Different Truths, ARCS PROSE POETRY. Nancy Ndeke also works as a literary arts consultant, copyeditor and  Writers’ Clinics Moderator.