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Eva’s Song: Forever wisdom

Eva Lassman stands next to the Spokane Community Holocaust Memorial at Temple Beth Shalom in 2005. Lassman, a Holocaust survivor, died in 2011 at 91. She spent the last decades of her life talking to schoolchildren about the Holocaust. In “Eva’s Song,” a poem about her life written by Michael Gurian, Lassman says: “I am a Jew, and Jews were born to plant flowers even in the garden of a thousand sobs.” (File)
Eva Lassman stands next to the Spokane Community Holocaust Memorial at Temple Beth Shalom in 2005. Lassman, a Holocaust survivor, died in 2011 at 91. She spent the last decades of her life talking to schoolchildren about the Holocaust. In “Eva’s Song,” a poem about her life written by Michael Gurian, Lassman says: “I am a Jew, and Jews were born to plant flowers even in the garden of a thousand sobs.” (File)

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Shalom, writer Michael Gurian will read his oratory poem "Eva's Song" written in the voice of Holocaust survivor, Eva Lassman, who died a year ago at 91. The poem is stunningly beautiful with wisdom gems all over the place. I was able to put only a few of the verses in my story Thursday. Read here.

One of Eva's main messages: Love the family and friends God put in your path in this life. They are there for a reason, even if they drive you crazy. (Sentiment in italics is my paraphrase)

Here are some lines that reflect this message:

What you must do, is keep your promises.

My dear friends, you must care for your family as a promise,

you must take photographs of loved ones, and realize:

they are your masterpiece.

(S-R archive photo of Eva Lassman)

Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.