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Open Poetry #47
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A goodbye to greatness
| Open Poetry #47 |
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A goodbye to greatness |
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steavenr Member Elite
since 2003-11-17
Posts 4058 |
July 26, 2011, my father, Steaven R. took his last breath, leaving us with only his words to hold forever. I know he was loved and appreciated here. It's what led him to publish his first book just a few years ago. And I thought you might want to know why his faithful posting has stopped. I want to thank you on behalf of my entire family for reminding dad that he was an author who was needed by this world! In his honor, I am posting a poem I wrote the day after his funeral. Duplicitous Death You vex and deceive and haunt my heart While offering me thoughts of relief. Toil and agonize as I might, You promise hope. I fly on wings of memories, And soar to the pinnacle of love shared. You snatch me back as I grapple for more, Weary. Sweet, comforting resting place You offer no rest for me. Oh how you hold the power to stir a cyclone of emotion! Smiles and laughter mixed with gutteral cries of pain. Wails of grief I can not hide from nearby listeners They can only stand and pity us who suffer. Oh sweet death you taunt me with your promises. Sweet, haunting, duplicitous death... (shelerellaSP) |
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| © Copyright 2011 Steaven R Snow - All Rights Reserved | |||
Alison 
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
shelerellaSP, My heart hurts to hear of Steaven's death. I will truly miss him here on these pages. He was a beautiful poet, and, more importanly, a proud father. Please, post in the Announncements that your Dad has died. Many of us will miss him - and annoucing it there will reach a lager PiP audience. I know that Nan will be adding him to the PiP tribute page of those who have departed. Again, my heart goes out to you and your family. Alison |
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shelerellaSP Junior Member
since 2011-08-12
Posts 42 |
Thank you, Alison, for the kind words. If you could help direct me to the announcements area, I'd be grateful. I'm new here, so I'm not familiar with the procedure. Thanks again. |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
What extremely sad news to discover at my return on Pip! Your poem is very poignant and touches my heart, dear Shelerella. What beautiful words: quote: Your Father had shared his love for you here more than once. Steaven was a wonderful PIP member, a most impressive Poet and a generous reader of other Poets' contributions and he always offered loving comments and really participated in the true spirit of Pip. My heart is very very sad indeed. I am sure Steaven is soaring high and free towards his celestial Home and will stay in touch with you. The soul connection continues. Hugging you across the world. Steaven will be remembered with admiration and love here and within my heart, always. He will be missed. As you write such beautiful poetry I would kindly invite you to continue to come here and share your poetry. I have your Father's book "Buffet of the Mind" and love it and will cherish it forever. Love, Margherita  To publish the sad news on Announcements, click on "Discussion" above and go to "Announcements & Links". "Love is the One who masters all things; |
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shelerellaSP Junior Member
since 2011-08-12
Posts 42 |
Margherita, Thank you for the help... and thank you for being a lover of my father's poetry. His second book of poetry is called Diet of the Mind, which you might enjoy. He had asked us children (we are four in total) to submit poems to him for a book of family poetry, but I guess we each figured we had plenty of time for that... now we realize even more what a gift time is... and we plan to posthumously publish 2 more poetry books, a spiritual work, and a novel he had nearly completed. I'd love it if you could keep an eye out for those! I ache to keep his memory alive. |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Hi again, The link to the Annoucement board is here: /main/forumdisplay.cgi?number=3 I have been thinking about your Dad all night. A |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Steaven graced us with his poetry and his kind responses... I am so very sorry to learn he's gone. My heart goes out to you and your family. He loved you so much! |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Sending condolences and prayers. |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
WHAT! NO! I can't believe it! The tears are streaming down my face. I haven't read your poem nor any of the replies. Will do so in time. I didn't even know he was sick. He was (is) so vibrant, his poetry so beautiful, sensitive and real, and he was (is) such a lovely person - kind, compassionate and good - what a wonderful father he must have made - I am devastated -as though I have been dealt a blow with a barge pole across my stomach. Can't think of all the right words to say, the things you need to hear - will do so in time. Sorry. Owl |
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ebonygirl Member Elite
since 2011-07-14
Posts 2000California U.S.A |
My deepest condolences go out to you and your family. I am also new here at pip and will look forward to reading your father's poems. Sending you light, ebongirl |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
I am so sorry to hear about your father. He was one of my favorite poets on the site and I will miss him. He was a talented poet and a special person. I see that you have inherited your father's special gift and I am sure he is very proud of you. My sincere condolences to you and your family. Ida |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
I send my condolences also about your loss. Many are here as was he, trying to shout at the world, listen! as we pen our poems. He was listened to here, and from what you say, that made him happy. God bless . .. ~ I knew drugs weren't the answer. I just had to find out for myself. ~ |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Oh my...I'm so sorry for your loss. You should be very proud of the man he was and the writer he was. You will forever have his words as memories too. You and your family are in my prayers. |
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shelerellaSP Junior Member
since 2011-08-12
Posts 42 |
Thanks to all of you who knew and loved him. I can not tell you what it means to me right now to have him alive and well in so many hearts. He lived with epilepsy for 50 years, after a fall on the head in his childhood. Most of his life, medication kept it at bay, but for 3 years his medicine was almost ineffective. It finally took his his life at only 58. Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers. |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Still sobbing, but reeling a little less at the shock, so able to collect a few thoughts and words. I have read your excellent and sensitively beautiful poem - an exquisite tribute to whom your father was (is) and I have also read the loving replies. I didn't know he was ill, much less so ill. I think there was one poem (I haven't checked yet), where he hinted ever so slightly at not being well, but this is such a shock for me and I am sure all Pipsters - so I can believe how much it must be rocking the foundations of the lives of all 4 of you. However, you can rest assured that he is now at peace and is the guardian angel of all 4 of you and is embracing you all to bring you comfort. So that I can read them offline and when I can't get online, I collect my favourite poems offline in folders under the name of the poet in a Pip folder, and I have very many of your father's. I am glad you have the comfort of his exquisite poetry, a wonderful legacy for him to have left you. I know you have his poetry, but perhaps you would like to do a Search on SteavenR in Open and Archives, and you will be able to read and/or save some or each one of his poems (click on Print then Save As and save to where you want to save them on your computer) the comments of his friends and the admirers of his poetry. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family in this time of great pain. Perhaps it will help a miniscule bit to hang on to the thought that the measure of the pain is the measure of the gift of his presence in your lives when he was alive. Love, tears and hugs Owl |
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shelerellaSP Junior Member
since 2011-08-12
Posts 42 |
Dear OwlSA, I thank you for your heartfelt response. Dad had 2 of his poetry books published, and we plan on going through the poems here and publishing more. He also had a novel started and I'm eager to see that. I'm hoping my brother will complete it. Anyway, yes... those moments shared are so much more precious. We were blessed to be a part of his few days on this earth and have him in our hearts forever... I cannot tell you what a comfort it is to me to see how beloved he was on so many fronts! |
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Word Weaver Member
since 2011-03-06
Posts 437California, USA |
A wonderful tribute to your father. May he rest in peace and your heart be light. Marcia www.thewritingforum.net |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Dear ShelerellaSP Thank you for your kind words. I am glad that my thoughts were able to bring you some comfort. There are so many more who loved your father and his poetry, some who aren't here because they have passed on, others who are very ill, others who don't have much time to be online, or can't be for whatever reason, and others who take a break from poetry for a while. I have never known anyone not like your father or his poetry, nor can I imagine that there could be. If your brother doesn't finish your father's novel, I hope you will take it on. As several people have already said or implied, you certainly have inherited your father's ability to write. Although it will, in some ways, increase your grief, in others it will bring comfort in that you will feel all the closer to him in the process, and somehow help you climb inside his thoughts. Hugs and prayers Owl |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Dear Shelerella, I will certainly purchase Steaven's second book and look out for your further publishings. This work will be a wonderful way to feel your Father's closeness and to honor his memory. He so deserves to be read and known. Love and hugs. Margherita |
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