[Gregory Dowling]

Here's one from Very Far North that I love:

Elsewhere

A goose in the yard yearns for a barn,
and the penned bird, to go free.
The returning salmon yearns for the tarn
from which its fry will flee.

Elsewhere ... what is its lasting charm
for the creature in misery?
A fisherman longs for the land-locked farm
its tenant would trade for the sea.


Father Robert, if you can, please let Tim know he's in my thoughts and prayers here in Italy,

Gregory

[Martin Rocek]

My thoughts and best wishes to Tim. He will be remembered.

Martin

[Robert Pecotte]

I'm going to see Tim tomorrow, most probably the last time I will see him in this life.

I thank God that He had Tim walk through my door all of those years ago, and that I heard his first confession in over forty years and was blessed to give him Holy Communion for the first time in all of those years. I also thank God that I was blessed to hear his last confession, absolve him (his contrition was most sincere and serene) and give him Holy Viaticum (his last communion) this past week.

I will, once again, give him your love. And I thank all of you for your love and support for Tim, who truly suffered greatly in his soul, through out his life. He loved all of you, even all of those whom he disagreed with over just about every thing under the sun :-) .

One of the things he told me about the members of the Eratosphere is that they have many different beliefs, but they all seek perfection in the Poetic Craft and are dedicated to it.

May our differences in opinion, politics, religion etc...never interfere with our love of the rhythmic word. May we always assist each other to be the best poets in the World.

Meritocracy was Tim's view when it came to Poetry, let us Merit well and leave a legacy of verse to those who shall aspire to the same once we are gone. Tim has done his part.

Pax Vobiscum,

Fr. Rob

PS: I want to thank all of you who have helped me over the years to be a better poet. Including those former members who no longer haunt the boards. I love all of you, and wish you the best. If it were not for Tim and the Sphere I would never have improved in poetics or come to the knowledge that I now have of this blessed craft. My hat is off to all of you (and yes, I own a Biretta.)

[Robert Pecotte]

Sorry that I have not posted sooner, but it has been a very long and tiring day.

I saw Tim this afternoon, he is unconscious and is breathing erratically, with long pauses between periods of shallow breathing. I prayed the prayers of commendation with him again. I also offered him your greetings etc...hearing is the last to go.

It was a bit hard to leave today, as now I am fairly certain that I shall no longer see him in this life.

[Charlotte Innes]

Thank you for all you’ve done, Father Rob.

Charlotte