Ben -- a gentleman: As a child, a youth, a young adult He wore the cloak of kindness and courtesy His mind ever eager to learn, to discuss And his spirit gently present. His character and integrity a welcome companion to our daughter, Leah. His brother Dylan's also resonant to our son, Nathan Ben would take time to talk with me, their mom. He was always welcome in our home. In spite of our grief and loss, he will be Remembered with gratitude and joy For his many gifts of life. ____________________ Ben That he is gone How can the mind Encompass that as fact? It must rebel and run in rage and Desperation head on Into the bitter winds of fate. Run and run again, Again, 'til it exhausted falls. How can this be? That he who graced our lives, This earth, Should simply Stop, Cannot be grasped. Gray, towering waves assail The headland of my grief. Salt spray runs down its craggy face In hissing rivulets. In time I know each storm subsides, And faith cries out, "So will someday even this." But this one leaves within its wake A quantity of brokenness not soon healed. If weight of sadness be a measure, This young man too few years Has touched more lives more deeply Than most have been privileged to know. With difficulty, now, I try to let him go And with him, too, Dreams of a former day. In some bright future of some other life He might have been a welcome son of mine, Wed to the daughter of my joy. The currents of our lives flow To a different destination, though, And one with blessings of its own. But blessed I'll forever feel But one as fine as Ben walked Side by side with her For even just a while. ____________________ | |||