Don't ever call me an arse again????????

Thanks for the kind words, you've always supported me.

Mike

Oh....well that's such a nice thing to write, so pleased you enjoyed my work.

Mike 

Your very kind Trevor,  I've never been one to hide from my inadequate education, rather to use it as a spring board into keeping things firmly set in reality.  Just happy to have been around an incredible bunch of writers.

Got to rest now

Mike 

Before I met you, our discussions over your life story pieces made me feel you were a friend. When I met you, I knew you were. I shall remember you. 

Indeed young Griff, I much enjoyed our Bristol meet up. I wish there could have been more, your an interesting man.  Been sent home for a few days for stealing gin HaHa!  Only joking, they need my room and I'm not dieing quick enough?? 

Hi Mike, Although I never had the chance to get to know you, I always admired your contributions and did feel I could understand you from how you wrote. You don't know me although I once shared some poetry on here which was nice to do.  I am writing this to help give you strength and that you were well thought of and so prayers and blessings to you. x

I so much regret what I read in your first post Mike.  Coming back to the forums after a while away and finding this is a blow.  I have long admired your own writing and your comments on mine were always perceptive and so welcome.  Although we never did meet in person, I felt something of a kindred spirit which I very much valued.

Death is the one common denominator, the one unavoidable, the one shared (and yet not shared) experience.  It is the road we all must walk eventually and essentially we walk it alone.  May your road be quiet, peaceful and, above all, pain free.

A long number of years ago I wrote a poem, after several bereavements in fairly quick succession, which says something of my views on Life and Death.  I humbly offer it now to a valued writing colleague, who will be missed.

Just a Moment

Life is sweetened by these moments:
A handshake, a hug,
A warming smile that
Shines into the beating of our hearts.

Friendship resonates to these moments:
The bell of understanding rings
A deeper tone than words can sing
And the echoes chant our lives.

Time is manifest at these moments:
Everything before collides
With everything after
And the clarity numbs us.

Death is incised by these moments:
The knife edge that slices our continuance,
That separates our being
From the remembering of it.

Grief shivers with these moments:
Reeling back to avoid
Something already passed;
Grasping at what was, but is no longer

Love transcends in these moments:
Enduring the pain,
Holding remembrance,
A testament to loss.
 
A breath let go,
a quiet breath of acceptance,
and in this moment of darkest night
the stars shimmer .
 

© Elfstone 13/9/04

That's a beautiful thing to do thanks so much.

MikeX

I'm in such a muddle Bel, I can't work out if I replied to your comments. I think you've always understood my writing, I've always been greatfull for that. Thanks so much for the time you've taken with me.

Mike XxX  

Aw heck, Mike. Sorry to read this. Take care, young man... if they can't take a joke, fcuk 'em indeed.

Thanks for those kind words, they mean so much to me. I'm a bit out of it now, sorry I can't say more.

Mike 

Your words are all I could hope for, thank you.

Mike

Thinking of you constantly Mike.  Love you.

Val xxx 

Hello Val, things okay here at the moment, I seem to have stabilised. Everyone has thrown the rule book out the window, I should be dead.  As I'm not,  we've decided to carry on as before.....I went out for a pint last night HaHa!  I'm not getting better, that's not going to happen, it's just at this moment, I'm not getting worse.

Thanks so much

Mike XxX