Mourning # 27
Spirit woman
dressed all in red
Spirit woman
collecting the dead
I beg you to leave me
I beg you not to set me free
life is a gift
though I don’t let it show
give me another breath
I’ll tell you when I’m ready
to go
with you
into a new dimension
Spirit woman.
---- Fire chief of Ludlow, Vermont,
Robert Kirkbride served as an infantry-
man in WWII and a military policeman
in the Korean War. He was a police
officer in Burlington, Vermont, then he
served for 60 years as a firefighter and
fire chief in Ludlow. He was 93.
He still drove his own car and mowed his
own lawn and appeared in full uniform in
the annual Memorial Day Parade.
Last year his wife of 67 years died, and then
his son of 56 died suddenly as well.
In March 2020 Chief Kirkbride developed
bronchitis and was admitted to White River
Medical Center where he died two weeks
later. No funeral could be held; the family
is hoping to hold a memorial for Robert
Kirkbride when possible.
