by Dan Gagne
His motto, ‘do the right
thing’,
a learning spirit,
absolutely.
His love of people,
obviously demonstrated.
His words, spoken with
authority,
yet soft spoken.
His morals, true to him,
with an open and fun spirit.
He role modeled with words,
also a powerful example,
without.
Passionate about a Higher
Power,
and relentless to know life’s
solutions.
His work, took him away,
in order to provide for his
family.
His toolbox, possibly scarce,
but his efforts, undoubted.
Was he there, when I was
young,
and unaware of the absence
felt in me?
What about me, in his later
years,
did I see how much he needed
me?
Wanting him, when young,
he wanted me, when aging.
Giving to each other,
somewhere in the mid years.
Both of us, on a spiritual
journey,
awkwardly loving each other.
Learning from the same page,
and at times, not at all.
Sometimes, a competition,
believing we knew a better
truth.
Convincing the other was the
aim,
a competition, often with no
winner.
Waking up, following a fight
for life,
I said to him, ‘you pulled
through’.
He responded, not missing a
beat,
‘that’s the name of the
game’.
For many years, asking
myself,
what name and what game?
I understood to a point,
but the answer came, much
later.
He loved me, when I needed
him,
his absence told me
otherwise.
I loved him too, when he was
in need,
unable to show him, distracted
with life.
We always loved each other,
but did not always know it.
Absence, distance and
unawares,
together, our greatest
adversary.
In the last couple days,
awareness sprang free.
Love is never about me,
it is always about the other.
I was focused on him,
his need, so desperate.
Helping him with basics,
privileged, was me.
Inviting him, to hold me,
with his arm around my neck.
Journeys for basic needs,
as partners, we faced each
one.
It was our final journey,
talking to him, but no
response.
Delusional, then clenching,
moments later, slipped away.
I held him close to me,
then felt his last breath.
I knew, there was no doubt,
he was now held by another.
The mystery of love!
Giving it, not getting it.
When we give it, we get it.
We are loved without effort.
He never gave up on life,
always living it to the
fullest.
Always striving for the best,
he believed, his
responsibility.
Live life to the fullest,
never give up.
When it’s time to die, you
will know.
That’s when I heard him say
again,
‘that’s the name of the
game’.
