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Jane's sixty years of life out on this Earth, 

we met at Straddie (or Minjerribah) 

& shared our stories of her - f'what they're worth - 

& had some food & drink. And here we are!

What drew us all together at this time. 

was Janey & her life & thoughtful grace, 

her brave'ry & adventure gives the rhyme 

that keeps repeating, & helps us to trace

affects from her life on us, as we go, 

but also humble knowledge that she learned

by asking, list'ning, watching what folk show 

& caref'ly keeping, passing on what's "schön" *

to others who'll appreciate that stuff; 

& keep the living knowledge there alive. 

What's kept alive in humans is enough

to culture what is worth helping survive.

And Jane, I think, seems to appreciate

this, since her way of celebrating mends: 

involving walks, & swims, watching & wait- 

ing, cultural tours, & introducing friends,

and games together, thinking of each one 

who's there & what they love to do, or like, 

& helping each to add to all the fun, 

& minimize what "sends one on a hike".

She'll celebrate connections to the land

& country that we "own" to care for now. 

Our lives, as garden plots (we understand)

accept the seeds she plants in us (somehow)!

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* schön (German for beautiful, lovely)

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