Oh dear. After a number of days absent from TN, I log on to see this sad news. And today is his funeral... Having never met Steve, it's taken me by surprise how emotional I feel about his passing. A difficult mix of relief that his pain has ended, and deep and utter sadness. Seems the best among us all too often leave us too soon. My heart-felt condolences to his family and prayers for Steve on his new journey. I wrote a poem last week on this. I hope it's not inappropriate to post it here. Sent with love.
The Man with the Larson Guitar
Woke warm today.First time in so long.
The air feels grey
and close.
Veiled moon last night
wistful and shy.
It's hard to wait
for a friend to die.
Friends are made
in many ways.
Some next-door, while
some through screen and key
and electric magic...
Some folks are better.
Just better- and sweetly so.
It's hard to wait
for a friend to go.
There is a place
far from where I sit.
I poke a pin upon a map.
I could be there,
in a day, or two.
But that won't do. It isn't mine-
your journey crossing unseen line.
Still, I have pools upon my eyes.
It's hard to wait
for a friend to die.
Land-locked span of fields-
lines of invisible division.
Deep history yields, offers.
Some are worthy of that.
Some are applauded by the greatest spirits.
And as one sole path of
one sole life
begins to split and stray
from our common 'every day',
ancient spirits will not cry.
When time stands still,
men learn to fly.