No April fool, today

[mat james]

No April Fool, today
(April 1st 2008)

This morning
I was in the shower
and the phone rang.
“Who’s dead?”
I thought
as I rinsed the soap from my face;
my wet ears ringing.

We were charging 24 shots
of explosives
Jerry had come to help
and Bernie and I were to follow
this expert miner's advice
but Bern didn’t like bombs then,
so he let me and Jerry have the fun.

23 shots were lit
and the sparkler
that we light our bombs with
went out !

“You go!”, he screamed
"It's safer that way".
I replied “No,
we started this together
we finish it together.”
So we waited
5 seconds
10 seconds
with 23 hissing bombs
reminding us of our mortality
as we tortured that stubborn fuse.

Done! He said
and like a true professional
he reminded me to walk, not run.

A few years later
we were drinking home-made beer
under his pepper-corn tree
down by the dry, red sand creek
outside his "dug-out" shack
and as he spoke
he took us all
back to those moments
among the fuses hissing.

He stared at the others fixedly
then whispered to all,
“You know Mat, I like you for that;
No, No! I love you for that!"

We had bonded
somewhere beyond fear,
and my ears were still ringing:

“Hello Mat, it’s Eva,
Jerry died this morning.
I wanted to ring you
before you heard it from
any-one else.”

...and my ears are still ringing.


Matj

[lizzytysh]

I'm so sorry, Mat. Please tell us more about Jerry. Is he the gritty one you've spoken of before?

I wish Bernard would return here. In case he doesn't, please give him my best.

You're a great friend, Mat. The trusted kind, who will always have your back.


~ Lizzy

[Steven]

Hi Mat,

Sorry for the loss. It isn't any misfire when someone's real character comes
out as it did, for the two of you. Times like that reveal what's really down
in the depths of a person. The two of you were fortunate to have discovered
what each of you was composed of, as you did.

[Alan Alda]

Sorry to read you lost a mate.

regards,
Laurie

[Manna]

Mat, I'm so sorry. (genuinely!)

I like when you write like this. Your intimate style in writing things like this is so straight that it hooks me and takes me along.

[jill]

mat,
I'm sorry your lost your friend, too.

The poem was very touching.
the poem is simple but complex at the same time: Everything is in balance:, the ears ringing , the beginning/ end. You weave the past and the present seamlessly and succiently .
I wonder how long it took to write.

jill.

[Cate]

Hi Mat

I agree with Jill, this is a very touching and well balanced piece.
It always feel like there's been some kind of mistake when you get news like this, so April fools day was quite a day to get that phone call.

All the best Mat

Cate

[mat james]

I raise my glass to Jerry,
and to you people (Lizzie,Steven,Laurie,Manna,Jill and Cate)
for your kind thoughts.

At times of loss, I love this poem by Sassoon . It is so refreshing.

Everyone Sang

EVERYONE suddenly burst out singing;
And I was filled with such delight
As prisoned birds must find in freedom,
Winging wildly across the white
Orchards and dark-green fields; on—on—and out of sight. 5

Everyone’s voice was suddenly lifted;
And beauty came like the setting sun:
My heart was shaken with tears; and horror
Drifted away ... O, but Everyone
Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will never be done. 10


Siegfried Sassoon (1886–1967). 1920.

[Diane]

Hi Mat,

Sorry to hear you lost your friend.

"What will survive of us is love." Philip Larkin

[Boss]

Mat,

Jerry must have been a good bloke
My thoughts to you

Adam