WORDS
FOR CHARLIE
written on May 3, 2014 in memory of my good friend, Charlie Wright
STRENGTH AND GRACE
For six years, my friend Charlie fought a
fearsome illness, and every time I saw him, I marveled at the strength and
grace with which he waged his war. He was a warrior in the best sense, a
fighter who used both bravery and patience to beat back the despair that so
often besets others in such circumstances. He seemed strong in a serene sort of
way, stubborn in a cool, unruffled way. I always sensed what I would call a
valiant mildness making its way across the room to me when I visited him, and
it made me thankful to be there. It’s strange, how the bravery of someone else
can cause a little heroism in ourselves – a little more ability to stand up to
the scary things in life and softly but strongly say what needs to be said and
do what needs to be done. My friend Charlie spoke quietly but there was daring
and steadfastness in his voice. I consider myself lucky to have simply sat and
listened.
The physical presence
of a good friend
is gone from us today,
but the gifts he gave us
will be given
again and again forever.
Like soft rain,
his quietness
will nurture and restore us
over and over,
and the streams
of his peacefulness
will flow through us
for years to come.
He carried confidence
wherever he went,
and shared it with us,
and shared his sense
that life is full of love
and wonders,
and should be lived with
bravery
instead of fear.
He faced death
with daring and a smile,
as if death was just a
ballplayer
to play catch with
on a mild April day.
He doesn’t stop giving,
this friend of ours,
just because we can’t see
him.
He still gives,
and always will,
in his soft and silent way,
tossing the ball of
kindness
for us to catch.
A FRIEND WHO
KILLED DEATH
Death does its
best to scare us,
to show us how
strong
and superior
it is,
but now, after
Charlie,
we know the
truth.
We know that
kindness
like Charlie’s
is way
stronger than death,
that devotion
to family
is far more
powerful than death,
and that the
goodness
of guys like
Charlie
gives death
a good and
fatal
kick in the
teeth.
Yes death,
we see through
you now.
You’re not a
winner
in any sense,
but simply a
fake,
a make-believe
force
with no true force
whatsoever.
You told us
you take
everything away,
but we know
the truth now.
Far from
taking
Charlie away
from us,
you have made
his love
look even
larger,
and his
goodness seem
more
everlasting
and more
invincible
than the
stars.
So goodbye,
death.
You’re gone
for good,
and kindness
and love
like Charlie’s
is with us
forever.
