EULOGY FOR MY BROTHER
Martin Higgins
Paddy, I'm just a storyteller, I know little of death,
Though I've seen its work and felt its breath on my face.
But you know that by now brother -- how this life is all a show,
Made of so many acts and so many characters
And too few happy endings.
I'm stumbling across that stage today trying to remember my lines,
Hit my marks, but all the while, I'm playing to the gallery,
Looking for that one bright face,
A laugh caught in my throat, as tears burn my eyes.
Now we have some difficult lines, trying times,
As the story moves on, beneath a tin roof
Beside an old tree, or under a gold and rose sky,
That says years, and means ages,
But is endless and magnificent.
Like you are now.
Paddy, when you made your exit and walked from this stage,
The Light shining back through the doonvay
Fell like truth in our lives.
Harsh and alarming, yet honest and clear.
For we saw...
That the tin roof was no more than cardboard,
And the old tree - a bundle of sticks,
And our wide-open sky - a dog-eared postcard from nowhere,
And the theater -- just boards and some chairs.
So now we stand speechless, awaiting our cue'
Looking down to find our marks,
Empty, aching, wanting no more than to wake
From this tremulous nightmare.
To the sound of your big laugh.
You! Standing fearless and bold.
And blessed with one more chance to hold you,
We'd tell you we loved you.
We love you.
But the Light is gone and we are changed,
The story changed,
And the audience sits waiting
For the rest of their story.
I will never forget who you were
And why I love you.
###
Copyright © 1998
Martin Higgins
all rights reserved
Though I've seen its work and felt its breath on my face.
But you know that by now brother -- how this life is all a show,
Made of so many acts and so many characters
And too few happy endings.
I'm stumbling across that stage today trying to remember my lines,
Hit my marks, but all the while, I'm playing to the gallery,
Looking for that one bright face,
A laugh caught in my throat, as tears burn my eyes.
Now we have some difficult lines, trying times,
As the story moves on, beneath a tin roof
Beside an old tree, or under a gold and rose sky,
That says years, and means ages,
But is endless and magnificent.
Like you are now.
Paddy, when you made your exit and walked from this stage,
The Light shining back through the doonvay
Fell like truth in our lives.
Harsh and alarming, yet honest and clear.
For we saw...
That the tin roof was no more than cardboard,
And the old tree - a bundle of sticks,
And our wide-open sky - a dog-eared postcard from nowhere,
And the theater -- just boards and some chairs.
So now we stand speechless, awaiting our cue'
Looking down to find our marks,
Empty, aching, wanting no more than to wake
From this tremulous nightmare.
To the sound of your big laugh.
You! Standing fearless and bold.
And blessed with one more chance to hold you,
We'd tell you we loved you.
We love you.
But the Light is gone and we are changed,
The story changed,
And the audience sits waiting
For the rest of their story.
I will never forget who you were
And why I love you.
###
Copyright © 1998
Martin Higgins
all rights reserved