Rest Peacefully O Dear Friend

(In loving memory of Thokozile)

A shadow fell, heavy and sudden, upon our quiet reflections,
Breaking the calm with an ache too profound to ignore.
It seeped into the deep recesses of our thoughts,
The weight of loss pressing hard upon our hearts.
Once a shining presence, the pleasantest among women,
Her radiant gates are now closed to us—
We may no longer see her face.
We loved her deeply, but the Divine loved her more,
And now, what He once gave, He has gently reclaimed.

Too soon, far too soon, she has departed,
Leaving us to reckon with the sharpness of reality’s edge.
The bitter taste of absence lingers on our tongues,
Yet, amidst the sorrow, we choose to remember her:
Not in the stillness of death, but in the fullness of life.

She was a friend, a colleague, a trusted companion.
A sister who stood steadfast, a mother who nurtured with grace.
Her laughter echoed like sunlight through darkened halls,
Her kindness, a balm for weary souls.

Now she steps ahead, walking the eternal path,
A journey all mortals are destined to take.
But even as she moves forward, her spirit lingers here,
Alive in every memory, every moment she touched.

We called her by a name so dear: Dodo.
Forever, that name will bloom in our hearts.
Thokozile, your light will never fade.
May you rest peacefully, embraced by endless love,
Your legacy etched into the lives you transformed.

Rest in peace, beloved friend.