eternal peace

Today is the anniversary of my brother's death; a passing that came too soon. This poem is one of his.

Let me go 
Sweet Dreamer
Cross me now
The line of last goodbye.
Sing nature's blowing breath
Fill my sail's wild winds,
Speed the inerrant road
To its conclusion.
Return me now
From whence I came
With all I have
From ever I was made
To go to dust again.
And let me sleep
With you in peace.

I care not what
The cost that life exacted
For mistakes I honest made
And no sum left will I now pay
That's much the price too high,
For what the toss
Of chance returns

I ran the wheel
Unsure of any reason
And mouthed my mumbled mantra
When humdrum pace
Set my juvenescence
And droning time's
Measured drip
Of medication
Filled my vein
And dulled my brain
For living easily

Afraid who's not
We're all the same
Before the swinging gate
Of fortune's fate
Be they the orphan runner
Deprived by death or care
Or scion lame by chance
Or swaggering champion
Of the day

To ourselves
We all lie
To varying degrees
But choose I not
In safe bravado
To in - comfort sit
Or with loud cheers
And hardest clap
Applaud the others of my kin
To endure pertinacious
Enmity and win

I am my brother's brother
We are God's children each
There is no higher calling
Than to love them well
But I cannot find in most
The charity or grace
Better live as dust or rain
Better far than this.

Ian James