Poem for Kayla Mueller--making use of her family's words

Making Peace Cranes with Your Captors, Loving Your Enemies

It’s not how long you live. Really,

The longest life is short indeed. And the shortest

Can offer us the greatest dignity and hope—

So Kayla Mueller’s life, 26 years long, will forever shine

Like a beacon of hope, a beacon of goodness

In a crucified world.

"Kayla was a compassionate and devoted humanitarian," her family said.

"She dedicated the whole of her young life to helping

those in need of freedom, justice, and peace."

What more can you offer? Your very flesh and blood?

Your love for even your captors, teaching them origami,

How to make peace cranes? And that she did before her death.

"Kayla has touched the heart of the world,” said her Aunt Lori.

“The world grieves with us; the world mourns with us;

the world wants to be more like Kayla . . .”

“and if that is her legacy and the footprint she leaves on the world,

then that is a wonderful thing.”