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'She'd smile and birds would feel that they no longer had to sing' | Jimmy Carter wrote this poem for Rosalynn in 1995

Underscoring Carter's devotion to his wife of 77 years, the Carter Center posted a 1995 poem he wrote for her, entitled: "Rosalynn."

ATLANTA — Former President Jimmy Carter is personally attending the tribute services in Atlanta for Rosalynn Carter on Tuesday, having undertaken the journey to Atlanta in his only publicly known travel since entering hospice care back in February.

The former president, as Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander explained to 11Alive's Savannah Levins, "doesn't like to be far from her."

RELATED: WATCH LIVE | Former presidents, first ladies attend Rosalynn Carter memorial service in Atlanta

Underscoring Carter's devotion to his wife of 77 years, the Carter Center posted a 1995 poem he wrote for her, entitled: "Rosalynn."

Read it in full below:

Jimmy Carter's poem for Rosalynn Carter, 1995

She'd smile, and birds would feel that they no longer

had to sing, or it may be I failed

to hear their song.

Within a crowd, I'd hope her glance might be

for me, but I knew that she was shy, and wished

to be alone.

I'd pay to sit behind her, blind to

what was on the screen, and watch the image flicker

upon her hair.

I'd glow when her diminished voice would clear

my muddled thoughts, like lightning flashing in

a gloomy sky.

The nothing in my soul with her aloof

was changed to foolish fullness when she came

to be with me.

With shyness gone and hair caressed with gray

her smile still makes the birds forget to sing

and me to hear their song.

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