The line of those waiting to pay their respects winds along the porch then down the handicapped ramp well onto the sidewalk. A Town Supervisor, brother, but first… a son.
I only knew John through the eyes of his mother, a coworker and colleague. But what I “saw” through her eyes were these: love, pride… and after the diagnosis – concern blended with a mother’s unshakeable optimism. The news of her son’s sudden passing touched all of us so deeply.
And so here tonight in the damp coolness of this late October evening we wait to both honor John’s life and support Diane. Our words are small consolation, to be sure. Nineteenth century American Unitarian clergyman, educator and author of a great many religious poems, Stephen Greenleaf Bulfinch, answers our need for words in The Mother’s Song:
Sleep, my infant, sweetly smiling,
Rest thee from thy hour of play.
Thy soft breath, my heart beguiling,
Soothes me on life’s toilsome way.
Safely sleep, my arms enfold thee,
Danger, care, thou canst not know,
While a mother’s eyes behold thee,
Safe thy bounding steps may go.Thou may’st miss my glance to-morrow,
On thy path, my blooming boy!
Soon may come a night of sorrow,
Closing o’er thy day of joy.
But wilt thou be friendless? Never!
While thy Father reigns above.
He will guard thy steps forever,
Friend of innocence and love.
Filed under: Reflections | Tagged: mourning, life, vigil, Stephen Greenleaf Bulfinch, Town Supervisor, Walton, consolation
