Pearl's Family Gathering by Julia Delores Sarfaty

It was not just
Someone we knew
Someone we were related to.

A quiet presence,
A ready smile, a greeting
Fed the entire family meeting.

She knew exactly what to do,
The how and when:
She got things done.

The siblings came
With shouts and greetings
Into the house
For the awaited meeting
We ate and drank
And on the porch
We laughed and got the latest

All afternoon the party grew
In noisy revel, as she intended,
Until in the dimming light
In satiation it was time to go
Good night, dear Pearl, good night