Wednesday, October 28, 2009

ali's flown away


"i've gotta fly away"
she laugh-called.

and it was
the middle of the night
so i lay awake
and thought of all the
sort of things
i knew her by.

her life
was lived
fast -
and beautifully.
a blur of movement
pinwheel colours
skip dancing
to the drum circle
and i'm not -
not quite
the sunburnt crazy woman-child
you might have thought i was
in my multi-layered
thousand-scarved
technicolour
inner and outer
rayments . . .

but i'm leaving now
leaving you
and all the others
not the same
but pretty much the same.
hey listen
i'll not leave you
just as i found you.
only wiser.
larger in the ways you can live with
and especially
in those ways
you can't live without.

ali's flown away.

leaving behind
her
kaleidoscopic glasses,
dust from the playa
at burning man,
wishes and dreams
and wild thoughts
that scattered from her
like confetti off the bride's dress
at a wedding.

a fleeting vision
of life lived
as if every facet of it
is a dance -

which it is
according to the cosmology
that ali and i share.

17 comments:

hope said...

I'm not sure who Ali is, but she has the most joyous smile on her face.

If she's flown off with the angels, my sympathy is with you.

steven said...

hi hope - ali was my brother david's love. for the last few years. steven

ellen abbott said...

Past tense? She looks like someone who would be wonderful to know.

Manon said...

My sympathy to your brother David!! Beautiful piece you've written!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful smile. Nice post, Steven.

alaine@éclectique said...

My sympathies to David and yourself. What a wonderful tribute, Steven.

Barry said...

I wish I'd had the opportunity to meet her. She sounds like a very special and interesting woman. No wonder she captured your brother's heart.

The Bug said...

What a beautiful remembrance of her. I can only wish that when it's my time to fly someone will remember me so well...

Margaret Pangert said...

That was a beautiful, moving trbute, Steven. How is it possible that the happy, vibrant, shining Ali of the photo could have flown away? As you said, her body may not have supported her anymore, but her spirit is free to do other work. My thoughts, prayers, love, and light go out to you and David and the family.

♥ Boomer ♥ said...

Very moving. Very sad. Very beautiful.

Jenny Stevning said...

Heartbreakingly beautiful.
I had a friend fly away a few weeks ago. Painful, but so amazing as the same time. Love to you and your family.

Kathleen said...

I don't believe I've ever read such a joyful tribute! Ali looks as though she was made of light, so flying away must have been a thing of ease. But I am sorry for any sorrow you may feel in her absence. Sending thoughts of comfort...

steven said...

hello my dear bloggy friends, thankyou for your kind, generous and thoughtful comments. ali was almost beyond belief in the way she lived as a person. she truly was the lightest - brightest - most life and love-filled person i've known. she was such a gift in my brother's life. "she opened your eyes wider" is what i told him. i wish each of you a peaceful day. steven

Anonymous said...

Steven
I was greatly saddened to read about Ali ‘flying away’. You have such a wonderful way with words that to say (write) anything else seems inadequate. Reading her blog (as I did with your other bloggy chums) she came across through her words and photos just as you described her – full of life, love and happiness. My heartfelt condolences go out to David and everyone else who’s life Ali touched.

Butternut Squash said...

I love the way that you celebrate life even in loss. Peace be with you and with your family.

Golden West said...

So sorry for your family's loss.

Bee said...

I remember you mentioning Ali in your post about shaving your head for cancer research. My sincerest condolences to you and all who knew Ali.

I know two people who died this week -- one of cancer, and both TOO young.