Because Of You...I Rise

An emotional moment For there in the mail Was a bundle of cards All..wishing me well ......A joy unique As I read each one Pondering the messages Written thereon You're a special group In a generous way This splendid suprise That brightened my day Stronger I'm getting And less the pain A few more weeks I'll chuck the cane And back in your midst Your faces to see With friends like you What a grand place to be Author's Note: January 1989, I flew down to Los Angeles to undergo back surgery. After a three week hospital stay, I returned home to find a rather large bulging envelope; return address: Robert Mondavi Winery, Oakville, California. Opening the package, I found it brimming with delightful get well messages….all from fellow co-workers. 'Because Of You...I Rise' was composed as a tribute of thanks to this splendid group, and was included in 'A Vision Of Home, ' my first volume of poetry….published in 1989.