[Jennifer Reeser]

PS. As far as his indomitable spirit...I am pretty sure that -- as usual -- *I* am taking the news harder than Tim, himself.

[Tim Murphy]

My thanks to everyone again for your good wishes and prayers. Obviously the Mayo assessment is far grimmer than Fargo's, a death sentence. They will do well to keep me going for a year. My brother, a serious Ashtanaga yogin, says my attitude is the best resource I can bring to this, and this new sonnet, my best poem of 2018, perfectly conveys my feelings. Tim

Distance

I like men who have distance in their stare,
seeming sometimes far off as on a hill
scanning horizons where they’re taking care
of herds or fields or planning their next kill,

sailors who venture far from sight of land,
climbers who summit far from the nearest town,
leaving tree line below simply to stand
nearer God’s throne, the sunset on His crown

alpenglow. I have seen clouds of angel wings
lenticular or cumulus sweep peaks
in the high Rockies. For love of wind that rings
in rigging, I’m one who listens as he seeks,

who stands confronted by this cancer scare
like an old trekker greeting a grizzly bear.

[Jan Iwaszkiewicz]

Yes indeed. The soft eyed stare. My best wishes Tim rage, rage my friend I am sending you a signed first of Murray's.

Regards,

Jan

[Max Goodman]

Keep that attitude, old trekker.

[Gregory Dowling]

Bravo, Tim. Fine sonnet. Keep trekking and keep that distance in your stare. All best wishes,
Gregory

[Jim Moonan]

Tim, your sonnet Distance touches me deeply. Beautifully envisioned. I will save this one for the day...
x
x

[Kate Benedict]

I haven't visited the 'sphere for far too long and so I just encountered this news. The sonnet is marvelous, Tim, and I hope you will keep being inspired, and inspiring us, for a livelong while.

[Charlotte Innes]

Tim

I posted twice, and this won’t delete, so sending more love!

Charlotte

[Charlotte Innes]

Dear, dear Tim,

I too have been a bit absent from Sphere in recent months, and I heard about this thread and your news from another Sphere member. I’m so sorry to hear about it all, but I’m also in awe of your indomitable spirit— which actually doesn’t surprise me. Keep up the joyous outlook, though I know that can be difficult. Feel free to slump sometimes! Just know that I and many others are thinking of you and care about you. Loved your sonnet!

And thank you Jennifer for everything you’re doing.

With love,
Charlotte

[David Anthony]

Here's to hope and affirmation even amid the worst circumstances:

1996 Howard Nemerov Sonnet Award
Winner: “The Track of the Storm” by Timothy Murphy
Final Judge: Anthony Hecht

The Track of a Storm

Bastille Day, 1995

We grieve for the twelve trees we lost last night,
pillars of our community, old friends
and confidants dismembered in our sight,
stripped of their crowns by the unruly winds.
There were no baskets to receive their heads,
no women knitting by the guillotines,
only two sleepers rousted from their beds
by fusillades of hailstones on the screens.
Her nest shattered, her battered hatchlings drowned,
a stunned and silent junko watches me
chainsawing limbs from corpses of the downed,
clearing the understory of debris
while supple saplings which survived the blast
lay claim to light and liberty at last.