As millions of Canadians find their own way of expressing their sorrow over the death this August 22 of Jack Layton, Niagara At Large has received a poem written by Pamela Murphy of St. Catharines, who is fighting her own battle with cancer.She shared it with the Niagara NDP constituency office of Peter Kormos in the hope it may be passed on to Jack Layton’s family, and Niagara At Large has received permission to share it with you.
GOODBYE-
There are many ways to say goodbye-
A gentle touch in passing,
A shaken hand,
A backward glance,
A hug that’s everlasting.
There are many ways to say goodbye-
In song or word or prayer,
A gift, love-wrapt,
A thoughtful note,
A footprint softly there.
There are many ways to say goodbye-
A smile, a kiss, a call.
For Jack so dear,
You’ll always be near,
And we’ve already said it all.
There are many ways to say goodbye-
As we softly leave in sorrow,
But your spirit will live
In the love we give
To our family, today and tomorrow.
From Pam and Mike Murphy and family of St. Catharines, Ontario to the family of Jack Layton.
We hope this poem gives you some comfort and conveys our deepest
sympathies. We extend our prayers to you all.
(Niagara At Large invites you to share your thoughts below.)
Niagara At Large 
Lovely poem. I met Jack once at an event in Wainfleet, where I was passing out flyers for better access to our health care and hospital services. He shook my hand, talked to me as though he really was genuinely interested in what I said and he told me Tommy Douglas was his idol. What a great man we have lost.
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