The Beauty of Alayne

On November 29, 2020, my amazing friend, Alayne Martell, lost her almost year long battle, due to complications with AML (acute myeloid leukemia). She was a special person, in more ways than I could ever explain. She was loved by so many around the world. She had the goofiest sense of humour and could make you belly laugh with her one liners, her facial expressions and her zany antics. She was caring and sincere. She offered me encouragement, and support, when I needed it most. She continued to check in on me, even though she was in a battle for her life. I am a better person for having met Alayne. Alayne was the Super Ninja, in Team Ninja, and she will forever be our leader and inspiration. I’m sad and my heart still hurts, but I feel her presence every day and I know she is never far away. I tried to put into words what she meant, but my heart feels much more than these words convey.

The Beauty of Alayne

You are the puffy white clouds, on a bright and sunny day

You are the gentle warm breeze, and the sweet smell of mown hay

You are the brilliant rainbow, your colours seem to glow

You are the valleys lush and green, and the mountains topped with snow

You are the angel on the tree top, elegant in your beauty

You are the eagle in the pine, majestic while on duty

You are the beach, the sand and rocks, the white cap on a wave

You are the beacon in the dark, reaching out to save

You are the sunrise and sunset, the beginning and the end

You are the alpha and omega, a true and forever friend

You are a piece of red sea glass, rare and held so dear

I’ll forever cherish our friendship, for you are always near

You are a special greeting card, tucked away in a drawer

“Thinking of you”, I often read, when my heart is oh so sore

You touched so many people, more than you could ever know

You are the wind upon our sails, to carry us as we grow

I’ll carry on and focus upon, the air, the land, and the sea

You may be gone, but you live on, in the beauty that surrounds me. 

~ Hughena MacDougall