As one who has lost a friend in this community to an unexpected passing, I offer my sympathies to those that knew this man. Here is the poem I wrote and read at the boat memorial we gave Thalodar (
http://65.191.240.141/~neotokyo/pennsic/pennsic31.htm ). Though it was penned in his memory, perhaps it may offer some small bit of comfort here.
Paths
Along the lonely plain,
The drifting wind gusts its way.
Passing under sun and rain,
Its voice heard in the grasses sway.
The voice is heard cross hill and dale,
A call to travel and see,
The lands from which the winds hail,
Far across mountain and sea.
Travelers follow the voice,
Searching, for what they can not name,
Journeying at the whim and choice,
Of a longing, to each the same.
To find a place, from whence the wind sings,
Knowing, without seeing, their feet roam,
That once it is found, the desire the wind brings,
Will be sated, at peace, having found their home.
To each person that treads the path of life,
This desire fills them, drives them forward,
Not realizing through turmoil and strife,
That many paths, through years onward…
Are the same, to go where the wind does call,
Leading back to where we began,
The place we belong one and all,
The home in which all paths must end.
So as we journey along, walking with others,
Kindred, family, spouses and friends,
Sharing the things that make us brothers,
Journeying to the same ends.
No matter how long it takes to roam,
Our journeys touching and then part
Know that when we finally come home,
Our paths will meet with those kept in heart.
