On B & B's birthday.

Dear father & mother,

Walkers, Bevan & Beth,

there's not many other

folk who, like you, invest

in friends who'll be, with mirth,

in centuries coming,

not stuck in this old earth,

who hear the new humming..

hum-m-m-m-m-ming

of the cre-a-tor's song

helping us all to sing,

or at least hum along,

like those been inspired

to look past mechanics

to the spirit quiet -

 (well, who never panics)

- even when loud or fast,

or crying or grieving,

laughing (not only last),

or with sorrow heaving.

For love's not passionless,

and neither are you two

(it can seem fashion-less;

at times that's what you do).

That great sense of humour,

that sparkle & “ïdea”,

Love calls “a twirp", (you Ma),
with no con-tempt or fear..

...sees to the source of all
goodness, light, loyalty;

loses itself to fall

before who “gives us free”¹.

From the son you named “Paul”.

[See also the related “Storyof a ppaling life [PART 1]”, below]

1The statement chanted by the slaves in “The Amistad” [the story of a slave ship of newly made slaves captured in American waters after it was made illegal to make slaves (though current slaves could still be kept legally), this was part of the spark that lit the fuse that led to the American war of independence. In this case their very ineptitude with the sounds of English helped to show they were not born in slavery, and worked with their baristers case to argue for their freedom. In the process, they understood something of the work that these others had done on their behalf, & were very grateful. It is a tragic human story, but one involving love & loyalty in the face of despair. If only the ending could have been better than “now they were free to join current American society or return to a dead family & ruined village life in Africa”, ... can you imagine any better? That's the direction..]