For John Morrissey, KIA, Vietnam, June 1969, and my best friend in the world.

From high on the banks of the Chesapeake,
Below, the waters grey and bleak
Roll the slumbering fish to shore,
A fisherman's boot, a forsaken oar.
Among the rocks they bob and weave
While farther out a skier cleaves
A surface of thickening debris;
Jostling together comfortably,
Soft against the smooth round rocks,
Nuzzling the beach, their silence mocks
The screaming scavenger gull's descent
To cull what's left of all we've spent.

These were the waters of our youth,
Unnruffled by no urgent truth
Staking its claim upon the mind
(Those days of grace excused our kind);
We swam with ease through ageless days,
With never a pause to sing their praise
Or wonder what we're meant to know:
Death reaps far less than life can sew.

Remember the glow of the stadium lights,
The pigskin's arc across the night
And into your hands (my aim was pure),
Your balance perfect, your footing sure,
The cheering girls we wish we'd known
(And the ones we should have left alone)?
And when you crossed to a farther shore
(Your balance sure forever more),
Did you recall in the napalm sun,
In the tracer's flare and the flash of the gun,
The night we camped upon these banks -
And never once to God gave thanks
For all the girls we'd ever known,
(And the ones we should have left alone),
The one you bought the bright ring for
Before you went to a farther shore?

News has come from across the seas
Where brave men fought upon their knees
In watery fields, beneath canopies,
To learn at last the press of time:
God's image strewn in pantomime
Of oneness blown to carrion
When one wrong step lifted a man,
My friend,
In pieces to oblivion.

Dusk lowers, drags the sun from sight -
A dark one coming, no moon tonight -
Lightning fills men's eyes with wonder,
Our ears with the murmur of distant thunder;
It comes, rolling, tumbling down the sky
Like an avalanche kicked from on high,
While above the water, beneath the trees,
I await a passing ominous breeze,
Hard upon which rides the voice -
Offering an ancient, forgotten choice -
Of some new, wild-eyed prophet.
Hear: all debts incurred must now be met.

I have not seen the heart of God,
And yet, compelled, I think how odd
That beneath this evening's frail silence
I gather only a timeless violence
That shakes mountains and swells waves,
Until, like a bat settling in its cave,
Round I and the earth night's wings fold,
Both so young to be so old.

________________________________

I'll be putting all this to rest for a while now. Don't know for how long. I'll get something up now and then, but only now and then. My apologies to those who have visited apace, and have found something here to take away. My good wishes, and God's blessing, to all the friends I've made here. A hand over my heart for the men, and kisses to all the ladies. The orange blossoms are in bloom now. It smells good outside.

 _____________________

Comments:
Sigh. All right, Bill--take up your Bass and Godspeed.
Posted by KTC email at March 11, 2004 07:23 AM

the words i grasp for are not enough.
Posted by smockmomma email at March 11, 2004 09:25 AM

Godspeed from me as well, William.
I don't know what else to say, except:
"Thanks."
Posted by Dale Price email at March 11, 2004 12:17 PM

Sigh as well. Just when you made your b'fing breakthrough you leave us punless and in a state of disarray. :~)
Posted by tso email at March 11, 2004 12:42 PM

sigh. so sad. your gift of writing was the best thing i've found on the net.
Thanks William, and God Bless!
Posted by Chublin email at March 11, 2004 02:00 PM

sorry to hear. hope that the orange blossoms keep you going! will continue to drop by in hopes of new stuff
Posted by alicia email at March 11, 2004 03:04 PM

Good wishes and God's blessing to you, too, and we'll miss you.
Posted by Jane Wangersky email at March 11, 2004 03:41 PM

Dear William, I just love your writing. You have a wonderful sense of balance. You are intelligent, sweet, courageous and humorous. I will keep you and your family in my prayers as you take care of the things that you need to take care of - but know that you will be missed as we patiently await your return. :) In Christ, Mary
Posted by maryh email at March 11, 2004 08:34 PM

I shall miss you too Mr. Luse.
Posted by Elena email at March 11, 2004 10:37 PM

It is very hard to be cross with your absence, as you have seen fit to throw a jewel in our laps on the way out the door. God Bless, Mr. Luse.
Posted by Julie email at March 12, 2004 04:13 PM

I'm returning online and to the land of blog after almost a month away, Bill, and this is unhappy news that greets. I've learned much here, been renewed and refreshed more than you know, and looked forward to more. But, at least for a time, the occasional posting from you will have to do, I guess. And even that will be very welcome. A glimpse now and again of a man whose kind, generous and insightful words have brought fellowship with them. Many thanks.
In prayer that the Lord's grace and peace will be with you and your family.
Posted by Francis email at March 13, 2004 04:07

Ach, not what I wanted to read my first day back after a bit. Oh, well. Blessings go with you, dear man. Let us hear from you when you can.....
Posted by Terry email at March 15, 2004 08:59 AM

How many orange blossoms can one smell before returning to your post!? :~)
Posted by tso email at March 17, 2004 01:23 PM

Good people all. Thanks. You'll see me around. And I'll be reading your stuff now and then.Those orange blossoms just won't stop blossoming, TS. They keep coming, one after another, not to mention the azaleas, hibiscus and day lilies. And oh yeah, did I mention the yardwork?
Posted by William Luse email at March 17, 2004 01:35 PM