Margaret Rose

She loved the soil upon her hands And sunlight in her hair She grew roses in her garden And left her kindness there She knew the names of every child Who passed her classroom door And somehow made the quiet ones Believe a little more She kept a tin of buttons And letters tied with string Birthday cards from years gone by And every precious thing Margaret Rose, we’re missing you And all the love you gave In gardens full of morning sun In every heart you shaped You gave us words, you gave us grace You taught us how to care And when the roses bloom again We’ll feel you standing there She made a home where tea was poured And cake was always near Where every guest was welcomed in With “come on in, my dear” She loved the spring and Sunday roast The books beside her bed The stories read to bright young eyes The little prayers she said And though we wish for one more cup One more “come in, my dear” The love she gave so freely Is still living with us here Margaret Rose, we’re missing you And all the love you gave In gardens full of morning sun In every heart you shaped You gave us words, you gave us grace You taught us how to care And when the roses bloom again We’ll feel you standing there So rest now, gentle Margaret Your work on earth is done The seeds you planted long ago Are reaching for the sun