a poem i wrote for my uncle's funeral tomorrow

A Call to be Inspired
by Lisa Stratton

We loved him so easily because he so easily loved us.

I see in the faces of mourning gathered here
in the honor and memory of George Stone
that it is quite obvious that he will be dearly missed.

It is equally obvious to me
that he is not exactly
missing.

What if everyone loved so much and was so much loved?

How many joyous moments branch off
in how many infinite directions
from something so mild and so often unnoticed as gentle patience?


What if each of us aspired
to polish the hearts of every creature that we meet
in every moment of our lives
with the soft cloths
of soothing vocal tones,
kind words,
warm laughter,
and smiles
born from the opening of our hearts
not the tightening of our cheeks?

What if each of us appreciated
the power of this one simple man's life,
multiplied across the lives of everyone in this room,
and that multiplied
across all of our collective everyday moments and reactions?

We gather now
and honor him greatly with our tears of grief
and our feeling of enormous loss.

How much more
can we honor him
by remembering that his heart of purest gold
beats still
here in this very room
now in this very moment
and pounds away in all of our remaining days
gently nestled inside so many hearts
once polished
by his gentle presence.