when breath courses through

unwitting frame,

doth joy spring up

‘midst sentient pain.

glory of glories!

alive, to feel the breath

of humanity -

in all its illogic..

no rhyme, no reason,

the history of relationship

steers crazily to and fro..

erratic course,

subject to neither system nor lore,

save whim and caprice

of dullened mind..

how I love to hate the jalousie!

how I steer wide berth to

those whose fortune hinders mine..

like senseless animal,

careening wildly,

out of touch with

hear-say or there-say..

mindless to the call of whit,

enquiry or destiny,

I blather wildly,

delivering no real

substance..

how I cackle and haw,

meander and prevaricate,

stiffened and wizened,

ignoring the call of the sane..

when breath courses through

unwitting frame,

doth joy spring up

‘midst sentient pain..

gladly let it be

and ring the hollow laugh

of the disenfranchised citizen..

these are the best of times.

your energy, warmth and

generosity of spirit

live on in me

and, I am sure,

countless others,

down through the chapters

of our lives..

ever since I can remember,

dearest Betty,

you have shown fortitude,

joy and optimism,

fuelling my youthful

hope and aspiration.

your concern and embrace

never failed to

banished fear and mistrust

from my heart,

and, by example,

gave me a surer footing

and a belief in the good, proper things

that life can surely offer..

your passing is a moment

of immense sadness

in all our lives,

but let us recall your

deeply infectious laughter,

through which I defy anyone

not to have been

moved and entertained..

we will miss you,

but know in our hearts

that, whichever realm you now occupy,

is enriched beyond measure

by the largeness of your spirit

and the beauty of your soul.

yesterday's news gave my

world a new and different hue..

finding out one has

a life-threatening illness

is at once depressing,

monumentally frightening,

yet, curiously, uplifting..

(nailing one's colours firmly

to the mast..)

the dignity and precariousness

of our feeble yet impeccable grasp

on this dream called ‘life'

manifests most strongly..

this crazy, inexplicable world

replete as it is, daily,

with all manner of human tragedy..

I have so many great role models

to emulate in this dicey dance against

annihilation..

I cannot except feel humbled and grateful

for the life I have had..

I vow, now, to take on this uninvited beast of

a circumstance in my life

and provide it with a merry challenge

and fight - for the joy that courses within me..

so many reasons to rail against the

corporeal dis-ease

with the brilliance of positive energy

that fuels the bones of conscience

that is mine and yours,

and our shared victory

‘gainst the manner and precipitation

of truth and reality

that would have it o'erwise..

with bows and resolution.

buoyant in light,

inhaling heavenly ether,

basking in a resplendent radiance

that is the received love of fellow voyagers...

dispersal of self

into every nook and cranny,

every corner, crevice, hidden place

that could possibly be conceived...

Oh mysterious and tantalising Existence!

I never know what You are going to do next...

many faces, reflecting all that we hold

in our mind's eye, awe, fear

trepidation, thrall...

a serpentine alleyway

of unending expression and emotion...

yet within the heart of such commotion,

intangible, impeccable stillness

above - and beyond,

utterly transcendent...

I bow to you all who manifest

the love that feeds and completes,

nourishes and sustains,

I return a thousand fold your

blessings and hold you

close to my wearied bones...