"Barracuda"

That’s what we called her

Her favorite song-

Joni Mitchell’s  “River,”

Among many other acoustic

Melodies fit for a

Gentle soul and

Wayward spirit.

A proud Latina--

Beautiful with 
Flowing black hair,

Glowing brown eyes,

An exotic  face of

Olive and  Ivory.

She was warm, generous, and kind.

A hearty laugh gave way

To grand adventures of

Crazy-ass fun

Never a dull moment

Life was good

Until it wasn’t.

We heard the news weeks later

After she went missing

Her body—once strong and agile

Finally found 

In a gruesome state,

Common to all murders.

First there was disbelief, 

A reporter's account would tell

Of a horrific ending 

To this powerful force of nature

Extinguished in her prime—

A vessel now empty and

Decomposing.

Then we waited.

We’re still waiting decades later--

Questions still unanswered;

An assailant never found;

Justice never served.

“Oh, I wish I had a River.. I could skate away on…”

   "River,"

Joni Mitchell and Herbie Hancock