At the Poetry Reading
by Nick Dean

I cannot convey to you or begin to understand the overpowering emotion that these people must feel in this room with me. And at the same time as I am physically with them, I am not even close to them. They are not here, but together, and that is all that matters.

It is wonderful that these people have found others who can share the grief with them. I see people hugging and crying, laughing, and sharing these experiences with people they have never met and yet have known so long.

Donor families, transplant recipients and their friends and families, and other members of the transplant community were invited to read poetry in honor of donors at this unique "open mike" event, in a coffee house setting.

See also:

The Story of a Hero: Dale Griffey (written by Jim Gleason, in response to meeting the Griffey family at the Poetry Reading)
Donor Family Events During the Games Story, by Willa Pilcher
Mom's Gift ...A Reunion , by Fran Kelsen and Jim Gleason
poetry by Roy Huddleston and Trish Dockery
Willa Pilcher's reports on Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday