Brother’s Toast

To Monica.
My sister.

I want to bathe
in the brilliance
of my sister.
Allow her light
to wash over us.
Let the magnitude
of Monica
resonate.

When I think of Monica,
I am filled with awe.

Monica was a radiant being
full of love and joy
and undeniably herself.

She truly did something extraordinary with
her life.

Monica experienced the world
in her own unique way.
She noticed
and paid attention.
She took it all in.

And from very young,
she knew she wanted to be a poet.
She wanted to share her world.

She put in the work,
reading and writing relentlessly.
She gave herself fully
to becoming
a writer of poems.

And because she did,
she gave the world words that will endure.
Words we can return to.
Beauty we can still touch.
A voice that is still speaking.

If you want to hear Monica,
sit outside on a spring day,
close your eyes,
and listen to the birds.
She’s there.

If you want to see Monica,
look at a sunset
that fills the whole sky
with color, light, and majesty.
She’s there.

If you want to feel Monica,
hug someone you love.

Because Monica gave real hugs.
The kind that came from deep within.
She hugged with her whole soul,
her whole being.
You knew it.
You felt it.

And then there was her smile.

That big beautiful Monica smile—
so full of life,
so full of joy,
so full of love.

I know Monica’s life
will continue to inspire us.

She is still with us.
She will always be Tía.
She will always be a light
for my daughter
and for this family.

We will not forget her.
And we will continue
to remember
and celebrate her life.

We were lucky.
So very lucky
to have Monica in our lives.
Lucky to be loved by her.
Lucky to witness
her utter
and unmistakable brilliance.

So let us raise a glass not only in sorrow,
but in wonder.
To Monica’s bold and beautiful life.
To her poetry.
To her laughter.
To her love.
To her fierce and shining spirit.

May her spirit warm us
and send the winds
that carry us
wherever we need to go.

Viva Monica.
Viva Monica.