He had just been or was or soon would be
in chair, at table, or behind work desk
with cheerful greeting smile for all to see,
epitome of anti-Kafkaesque.

His talk revealed a knowledge wide and deep
of places, peoples, and events held fast
with cherished times to cheer and times to weep,
with future fun to find, with thankful past.

He listened with attentive ear to all
and made some small but major choice remark
and would the good promote and bad forestall,
would dim the arrogant and light the dark.

Whenever thinking of his being gone
a ping of pain is eased by life well drawn.

-Robert Stone, 22 May 2011