Jim Tunney.
Marking the passing of an amazing man. Green-lighted some of my future as a very young man, when most others would have turned away.
Tears For The Righteous
By Steven J. Manning
From ashes, dust to dust, or, or equivalents of that in perhaps yours,
The righteous, the frivolous, the productive and malevolent, alike
The creator brings into the world and ordains their passing, alike.
The footpath of life, same for all, but for
The righteous walk with bewilderment and purpose.
The frivolous with nary a glance beneath their feet, trampling the flowers under.
The productive with focus and regretfully wasteful haste.
And the malevolent, at the expense of all others.
Our destination same. From dust to dust is pre-ordained.
How unfair for the Creator to be so compassionate to all. But for,
Belief in a purpose so esoteric to test the conscious mind.
Suspend intellect.
And task the soul.
For the passing of the righteous, the departure of the soul,
Makes way for yet another of the righteous.
Somewhere, somewhere in the world, perhaps next door
Or conceivably even in some Darfurian place God elected to forsake,
An ordinary woman brings into the world an extraordinary child.
Ordained to greatness. On a footpath to change the world.
Sorrow salted tears for the righteous slowly, painfully, thoughtfully, give way.
Bittersweet tears of fleeting smiles.
Resignation. Anticipation. Hope.
And then memories to feed the living.
One righteous soul making way on this earth for another.
Dignified remembrance in passing earned by dignity in living.
©2024. Steven J. Manning. All rights reserved worldwide. Any reproduction in
whole or in part, in any medium, in any form whatsoever is strictly prohibited.