by Cathy Hailey
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| Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said Monday that he will return to the upper chamber this week after taking time off for the death of his daughter, Madison. The Virginia senator wrote on the social platform X, “As we remember our incredible daughter, Maddy, my family has been deeply touched by the outpouring of support we’ve received. Thank you to everyone for your kind words.” —The Hill, April 27, 2026 |
You were the Northern Cardinal cheering me on,
sending notes of congratulations in song
as we celebrated student voices and publications
across the Virginia Commonwealth we share.
I became the Carolina Wren of gratefulness
as you shored up the forest of poets laureate—
my daughter among the honorees—
supporting grants for the arts and the word.
Now we are mourning doves together,
clinging in a chorus of grieving parents,
a child’s death disrupting the timeline of our lives
and stealing future nests and dreams.
From Alexandra’s Mom
Cathy Hailey is a poet and educator (Prince William County Schools and Johns Hopkins University). She organizes In the Company of Laureates in Prince William County and works with youth poetry programs for The Poetry Society of Virginia and The Word Works. Her chapbook, I’d Rather Be a Hyacinth, was published by Finishing Line Press. Publications include The New Verse News, FotoSpecchio, Little Free/Painted Pebble Lit Mag, First Frost, Making the Unseen Seen anthology and The Avocet: A Journal of Nature Poetry & others.
