For Vaughn Flora. Future Days.

Yesterday the hawk followed, doing aerials and dancing in the wind

This small gift broke through the grief, briefly filling the deep void of loss

Yesterday his soul left his body, and ascended like the hawk in the sky

His beloved curled next to him, holding him as he lifted off

This gift he gave, this gift you gave, presence and love, passion and understanding

Will be with you until you take off in flight, finding your place by his side

Sacred grace as friends bathed his body, gently and lovingly shrouding him in linen

This true act of kindness (Chesed Shel Emet) to return him to the earth as we are from dust, and to dust

we will go

His laughter echoes in my head as I remember nights spent in your room

Bringing out the silliness that we have kept inside from childhood

I will always remember

His love for the land

Swimming in his pond

Mexican food

His love of democracy and equality

And most importantly

Watching transformation as you loved him with your heart, body, mind, and soul, and he the same to you

And while we mourn, please remember he has not ended he lives in all of us now