Rutanya…Out Among The Northen Lights
By Douglas Semple
Rutanya,
I saw the Northern Lights dancing
One night long ago, as I gazed upon the northern lights,
my grandmother told me there was great joy in the land of the spirits.
“That is why the northern lights are dancing,” she said.
“There is great joy because someone has come home.”
Rutanya,
I saw the Northern Lights dancing
I saw them dancing the night you passed from here to there.
Your great-grandfather must have been so happy to see you.
I’ll bet he held on to you for a long time.
I know your Auntie Vicky danced as she saw you.
She was always a good babysitter. She will look after you.
I know that I know Jesus danced and shouted as he laid his eyes on you.
He once said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me.”
You are in his arms,…safe forever.
Rutanya,
I saw the Northern Lights dancing
My dear little Granddaughter, sometime in the nights ahead,
the northern lights are going to dance as I come to that place where you are.
I will be so happy to see you again.
I’m going to hold your hand as I stand face to face with Jesus,
the one who made it all possible for me to see you again.
We will forever be in the presence of our Heavenly Father.
Rutanya,
I saw the Northern Lights dancing
I saw the Northern Lights dancing
I will see you again
(I wrote this poem as a memorial to my granddaughter Rutanya Semple.
Rutanya passed away September 18, 2002 at 2 years of age. She is sadly missed by her grandmothers, Jordina Semple and Irene Winter, parents Titus and Michelane Semple, foster parents Rory and Anita Anderson, sisters Leona LeGarde and Heaven Semple, various aunts, uncles, and cousins.)
