Mourning # 21
My beloved daughter
the sun rose with you in the morning
and set with you at night
sure, we had our scraps
that’s growing up (or not)
for us both / I never wanted
anyone but you
your smile like you had
a naughty secret, stolen cookie
whoopee cushion, I loved
that smile, I love you –
always. now every day
living makes no sense
why do anything if you’re not here
-- maybe it’s best we didn’t get
to say goodbye, so I will keep you
alive in my heart, keep you safe
from this scourge, hold you up
for all to adore, now and forever
as words fail me
thoughts fail me
feelings, I don’t know
life has failed.
---- Shannon Bennett, 39, was an openly
gay Florida sheriff’s deputy who died on April 3,
2020 of COVID-19. Shortly before contracting
the virus, he had proposed marriage to his fiancé.
He was a school resource officer at Deerfield
Beach Elementary. His soulmate, Jonathan Frey,
described their relationship which began in 2013
when they met while volunteering at an LGBTQ
mental health center and how they got engaged
at Disney World last December. Both Frey and
the director of the Florida Police Chiefs Assoc-
iation, Amy Mercer, described themselves as
“devastated,” at the loss of Shannon Bennett.