The Elephant Sanctuary, Hohenwald, Tennessee

Dear Staff, Friends and Supporters of The Elephant Sanctuary:

Carol, Mark and I would like to thank all of you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers since we lost Joanna close to two months ago. The power of your prayers and thoughts, our faith, our knowledge that Joanna was doing what she was created to do and making a difference have all helped make this difficult time more bearable.

Your tributes, your emails, and your cards have given us a deeper understanding of our precious girl. Your moving words have given us even more reason to celebrate Joanna's life while we come to accept her death.

A friend who lost an older son shared with Carol that the period following loss of a child is characterized by waves--waves of sadness followed by waves of joy. We're beginning to understand the truth and wisdom of her words. We're uplifted in the sad times by the knowledge that joyful times will follow.

We are proud of and thankful for our little girl and we are proud and thankful for all of you who share in Joanna's desire to save these beautiful beings.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as you renew your resolve to fight for the dignity of the elephants and all God's creatures.

Much peace and love,

Paul, Carol and Mark Burke
Mansfield, MA
September 13, 2006

a quiet night ....in this jungle
all is still..........only the sound of the wind...........like a chant
thru the trees..where it all began..............
i hear........in the distance and so near..........
a cry, the weeping.....they are on their knees.........her elephants
she was their angel.................these abused and rescued......
remnants of man.......

its a happy tale, because she loved her life,
acres and acres, free to roam, ..................listen to their voice, their chants
               our girl was meant to do this...............
                 to caress, help heal.....and love with hands that finally found their home
she's at peace, now and forever.............with her beloved , scared and scarred
        by man............her elephants.

a quietness in this jungle..................
so still.....................the wind has ceased on this night
i hear the weeping, ..........one can hear their fright........
they know their angel girl......is gone....................she will never wake
                        in this life.
            no more can she kiss Winkie, and let her know..........what man did to her
........ noone can forsake.
she loved and caressed her, tried to keep her from the fright.

our beautiful girl is at peace now..........
her spirit. she is frolicing thru this thick jungle that we live in
she is free, there is a smile on her angelic face.......she is caressing , kissing.
Winkie.........
this day................our beautiful, angel girl..........found ......a new begin.

a quiet in this jungle
all is stil.........only the sound of the wind............like a chant
      ehru the trees....where it all began
i hear in the distance, and so near.............
             a cry, the weeping............they are on their knees....her elephants
she was their angel............
she loved them, healed them, carresed them.............
                   the remnants of man

she is their angel, she is waiting for them, she sings with their chants
she is at peace now, our beautiful girl
the cries, the weeping................her elephants

Joanna’s Spirit

My beautiful girl,
My heart is heavy;
For you’re in pain, thinking that
What you’ve done is
Beyond forgiveness.

But it is not!
I am here
Beside you,
Kissing your lovely trunk,
Rubbing your soft skin,
Blessing you,
Healing you,
Loving you as I always have.

And, although not necessary,
If it will help heal your heart
And make you whole,
Know deeply that I forgive you.

I love you, Winks,
And will watch over you
Till we meet again,
My beautiful girl.

We are here, precious sister.
We’ve come to see you,
To listen,
To touch,
To smell,
Above all, to thank and honor you.

You who cared, showed us a new way,
Encouraged us to be whole,
Encouraged us to just be.

In sadness, we close our eyes,
Remembering the joy of your presence,
The gentle touch of your hand,
The love and caring of your voice
The uniqueness of your smell.

Quietly we rest, remember,
Fond memories awash in our hearts,
Hearts filled with sadness.
Can it ever be again?

When suddenly
A rush of wind touches us in a familiar way.
A branch rustles, with a voice we seem to know.
A familiar smell wafts gently in our midst.
Our hearts begin to beat wildly
Knowing you are here,
Your spirit alive,
Your face smiling wide,
Your eyes aglow with excitement,
Encouraging us to go on.

And we are filled with limitless joy,
Secure in knowing we are still loved,
Still precious, still safe,
Still sisters.

I only knew Joanna for a year but she made a huge impact on my life. Her big blue eyes, easy smile, joyous laughter, passion, strength, compassion for others, and dedication and love for the eles will be with me for a lifetime.

I think of Joanna—like the lotus flower that blooms even in difficult
conditions—blossoming at the Sanctuary with passion, compassion and a
purity of purpose.

I want to extend my sympathy to the family, friends, and co workers of Joanna Burke.

How wonderful that she devoted her life to these animals and that she ask that no elephant be punished regardless.

If only we could stop the cruelty that these beautiful creatures endure which causes actions that result in accidents such as this.

Joanna must have been a very caring and loving person. If only there were more people like her. It is so sad that her life was cut short.

Once again I extend my condolences and hope that you continue the good work you are doing.

Geraldine Woodall
Columbus, Ohio

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
(Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!)

A poem for Joanne

Dance in the wind, For tis not the end.
Flow gently as a feather might, be carried free and light.
Never more burdened by the night, Joyous as a bird in flight.

We hear your soft laughter, the sound of love,
Like raindrops falling on us from above.
Soothing, our sad hearts to mend.
We send our love back, Dance in the wind..

Joanna

As hard as it is, we must say Goodbye
Goodbye to a sister, and a fine friend
God calls some away, we don't know why
In our hearts they live, there is no end.

She was one of the girls, she always will be
As part of this sacred earth, hallowed ground
Now, to be thought of daily, hourly, nightly
She guides and guards, without making a sound.

God Bless all those at TES, their bodies and souls
Their act of compassion is a work of art
This devastation won’t limit their goals
Joanna’s spirit watches, the elephants in her heart.

I wrote this in honour of Joanna..my prayers are with all of you.
Sanctuary Angel

And on this land where elephants roam,
there is also an Angel that calls it her home...

Gently strolling the grounds late at night,
watching the "girls" as they nap by moonlight..

She loved them in life, with all of her being.
If you catch a glimpse of wings on the elecam..
It is dear Joanna you are seeing.

Kate Elliott
July 22, 2006

Early on I recognized that Joanna was a force to be reckoned with. I am sure this, and her deep spirituality, are why she and the elephants bonded unconditionally.

I was lucky enough to spend a very brief time as a barn volunteer supervised by Joanna. At first I was nervous, but then realized how much I wanted to learn what she wanted to teach. Every time I saw her I was amazed and impressed at how fully engaged she was, seriously engaged, even in those endless hours cleaning out the barn stalls.

Each time I arrived at the Sanctuary she hugged me deeply, indicating that she knew how much this time meant to me, and even where my journey was going. One of the last times I saw her she hugged me and said. "Welcome home." She knew. On this same trip we probably talked the most we have ever. I remember how much she loved how young I thought she was, and how she swooned over how much she admired my friend Patrick. She let me hop on the four wheeler and laughed at how I was wearing a skirt and was sitting so butched out on the 4-wheeler.

I remember how she responded to my question about managing the volunteers and how she had learned through a meditation that it was her challenge and mission to meet them and learn from them. If I were much younger and could learn to be an elephant caregiver, Joanna would be like the scary teacher that you really wanted to train with and knew you would get the very best knowledge.

When Joanna had an accident on the four wheeler and Carol suggested I send her a care package, I made sure she got a CD by Tracy Chapman called Where You Live with one of my favorite songs, which begins: If you knew that you would die today If you saw the face of god and love Would you change.

Joanna did not have to change, she was there.

In love,

Kate