an unspeakable
ache flows thought,
as friendship
migrates
depth and death
halt meaning,
words replaced
with silence
months became
weeks turned
into days, and
lived, as hours
our words flowed
typed meaning,
from heart
to soul’s mind
never sad, always
honest and open
reaching depth,
fearlessly
passing from life
to Life, death
a passage, tendered
only as an experience
thoughts will remain
in my heart, but more so
in my doing, for he
was my mentor
Author notes
My friend, mentor and teacher has passed away. I shall always remember and pay tribute to the depth of his teaching, the profound quality of his nature, and willingness to remain a student even as we spoke about his inevitable death. He now has many more answers than the product of our conversations!
Comments
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This is a beautiful tribute to a friend and colleague. Some people have such a profound influence on our lives and the passing leaves a deep void. The mentor-student relationship can be so fulfilling, and it is obvious from your poem that you are a better person for having known him. Poetry is such a wonderful way to express our grief and share our love. Peace, Liz
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Thanks Liz
It was a special relationship - I know that he always respected his students, and it was a wonderful experience to introduce him to what I am doing - he moderated my students' examination at times, and I was also then able to learn from him. Frans
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Susan, your comments
and thoughts are much appreciated. Thank you for stopping by. Frans -
RIP for your mentor. its very difficult to find a mentor. but the one sent from above is a gem we all cherish. God Bless my friend
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My condolences Frans,
I have only visited your poems recently each time i am uplifted in spirit. This a fitting tribute to a friend and mentor ,which truly comes from your heart.
Friends are a blessing in this life from the comments here i see you have many blessings.
may you have peace
Robert
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Robert
thanks for your message. I appreciate this very much. I was his student way back in 1974, and we never lost contact since. He was a solid guy. Frans
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I read this slight poem ...
stripped and vertical in its reaching Up, and I hear his words: Heaven is wonderful ... for he started to experience heaven on earth, EVEN during his final sufferings. It is totally appropriate that YOU wrote this tribute, for he so loved you!
Thank you for making me part of his last months on earth. He made me smile through my tears; and he made me remember that the past is past, the present present and the future ... HEAVEN!
We will see each other again. For me, too his message was: "Jou tyd vir hemel toe gaan sal kom, intussen geniet soveel van jou lewe op aarde as wat aan jou gegun word. Die lewe is ‘n gawe wat ons moet geniet totdat ons geroep word."
Translated, for all of your readers:
"Your time to go to heaven, shall come; in the meantime, enjoy as much of your life given on earth as possible. Life is a gift that we must enjoy until we are called."
Thank you for all you did for Bill -- practical suggestions, inspiration, clear and down to earth conversations. But mostly, for listening and gently loving in the true endopathic way ...
I am honored to know you both.
Love
Myra
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Dear Myra
we have both lost a dear colleague and friend. Five days before he died he sent me an e-mail with his final message: "I am going to heaven where I will be waiting for you, but do linger a little longer on this earth." I'll miss our chats.
Yesterday I remembered that way back in 1975 I was ten minutes late for his lecture. I rushed in with an apology, and sat down. He then continued talking and said to the class that there will be no lecture. I then invited him to have an early morning cup of coffee with us [you remember the days when we sometimes had coffee class with our lecturers?]. He turned to me and asked: How old are you? I then discovered he had just learnt that none had prepared for his class, and that he was giving some 'lip service' when I rushed into the class! Of course I could not say that I did, and that this was the reason for my being late. Red in the face I kept quite. He left the venue and we went to the Kraal to have coffee. There we decided never again to attend a lecture of his without preparation.
Oh, and I remember the day after my final oral examination when he gave me 80% [he always said I never give 80%, as there is always room for some more learning] and said that he was not a Father Chirstmas, and I then said that I did not believe in Father Christmas!!
Well, it was a wonderful experience to walk all these years with him. I am sure you had similar experiences. Frans
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My condolences with you and also with the family of your friend/mentor! This reflects as a great loss and the sadness that you express are the reflection of true feelings of admiration!
All the best in the journey to acceptance of his inevitable death and finding the peace you once owned.
Becks
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Thank you Becks
It is lovely reading your message. I know he would have humbly enjoyed this too! Frans
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My thoughts and prayers are with you Frans .
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me and He is more powerful then anyone else. So no one can take them away from me. The Father and I are one. John 10: 28-29
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Sandy
this coming from you, when you too have walked this path, is heart-warming. Thank you my friend. Frans
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Lovely tribute, some teachers leave such an impression on us that when they are gone we think we cannot learn anymore but in fact they only give us the basis to want more knowledge and you will get that my friend. I know he will wait and guide you along from eternity. C
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Thank you!
I appreciate your reminder. His parting words were: "I'll wait for you on the other side, but linger here a little longer." Frans
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