Reasons Of Earth Poem by Francisco R. Albano

In memoriam FG

It must have been a most difficult decision
Knowing how it keeps us all in being like
A mother’s embrace from infancy to afterlife,
Yet the sky snatched his life 30,000 feet
Above the earth, above the birds and clouds
Of the earth between space and time of
Two continents. Beyond the sky, beyond
The galaxies of mind and spirit are reasons
That need not bother us now. He would have
Added a new link of solidarity between two
Nations in quest of the sacred, justice, peace.
The ambassadorial mission would have to be
For another comrade. Why this rapture in air?
It is reasons of earth, of toiling peoples
Of the earth that must concern us – why we
Are invited to say yes! to his death; yes!
To his owning only a trace of his presence
In demonstrations of care he left behind,
Treasured by picture frames in the hearts
Of many; by stories that shall be told
Of how one person gave of himself in the
Service of the people in a great revolution.
He interrupted the discourse of our lives
Like a knife opening the ripeness of fruit.
He need not have known what sweetness and
Seeds he exposed, what meanings for human
Endeavor they prophesy for our time.
He was of many relations to many people,
Imperfect but real –of anger and pain,
Of pleasure and cheer. He was of many ideas of
Human possibility, to be rejected or received
Without constraints. Like his smile, well
Designed they broke one to visions, not a few
Perhaps better than his. And this was good.
And so what do we have of him? His love and
Ideas, mind and heart, and ourselves touched
By him to know and offer to our people,
In gratitude for his journeying with us,
Distant or near but always with the people.
Let no one take his place, for the earth
Cares for its departed and has room for all,
For flora and fauna, for humans, angels and
Spirits. It defines itself as holding vision and
Heart, like true popular united front.
And so his passing makes one think of these
Things, of reasons of earth, and perhaps
Of the sky too dwelling in pools of earth.