She died today.
Of natural causes, so they say.
As I talked to her futilely, trying to coax her into life.
She gave up, decided to end her strife.
I laid my head back and held in the tears.
Her heart just decided it wouldn’t shift gears.
She was gold, inside and out.
She showed me what determination was all about.
Older than most, she still didn’t give in.
I was more attached to her than I should have been.
She wasn’t much to look at, but her heart was pure.
There wasn’t much her sturdy frame couldn’t endure.
She carried me through stormy weather without a complaint.
She breezed through life without restraint.
As the truck took her away, she looked back at me through sad yellow eyes.
Her body showing the wear that new paint could not disguise.
I blew her a kiss and wiped a tear from my cheek as she faded from view.
That van meant more to me than anyone knew.