Read Jimmy Carter’s beautiful poem to wife Rosalynn after pair shared 77 years of marriage

US
By James

By CLAUDIA AORAHA

Published: | Updated:

In July 2023, they celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary. Four months later, Rosalynn passed away on November 19, dying peacefully with her family by her side.

Now the devoted couple has been reunited.

The Carter Center shared a moving poem from former President Jimmy Carter to his beloved wife Rosalynn prior to her hometown funeral just over a year ago.

The couple’s marriage was the longest in U.S. presidential history. They first met when Rosalynn was just a day old.

The moving verses encapsulate the former leader’s long-standing devotion to his wife – and have become a poignant reminder of their eternal love following the death of Jimmy Carter on Sunday at the age of 100.

They started dating in 1945, when Rosalynn was 17 and a friend of Carter’s sister Ruth.

Jimmy Carter wrote a sweet poem for his beloved wife Rosalynn in 1995, which was shared ahead of her hometown funeral in 2023

Jimmy Carter died Sunday at the age of 100, nearly two years after announcing he would spend his final days in a hospice. (Image: Jimmy attends his late wife's funeral)

Jimmy Carter died Sunday at the age of 100, nearly two years after announcing he would spend his final days in a hospice. (Image: Jimmy attends his late wife’s funeral)

The couple's marriage was the longest in US presidential history and they first met when Rosalynn was just one day old

The couple’s marriage was the longest in US presidential history and they first met when Rosalynn was just one day old

The couple was married together for 77 years, with their relationship standing the test of time as well as the challenges of Navy deployments, a presidential campaign and Carter’s subsequent term in office.

The couple welcomed four children and 25 grandchildren and great-grandchildren and remained faithful to each other throughout their lives.

The Carter Center published the poem the day after the former First Lady’s memorial service in Georgia following her death at age 96.

Read the full poem, titled ‘Rosalynn’, below.

Rosalynn by Jimmy Carter

She smiled and the birds felt that they no longer did so

had to sing, otherwise I may have failed

to hear their song.

In a crowd, I would hope her look would be too

for me, but I knew she was shy and wishful

being alone.

I’d pay to sit behind her, blind to it

what was on the screen, and watch the image flicker

on her hair.

I would glow if her diminished voice brightened

my confused thoughts, like lightning flashing in

a gloomy sky.

The nothingness in my soul with her distant

turned into foolish fullness when she came

to be with me.

Now that the shyness is gone and the hair is caressed with gray

her smile still makes the birds forget to sing

and I to hear their song.

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