In Memoriam: Floyd Russell Taylor
!
He has turned his back to us
To kiss the earth.
Yet something of his nimbus stays with us
As a blessing. Ascendant,
The inherited mark of Cain all humans hide,
No longer casts his shadow as he wanders.
Nor can he curse (as if he would),
And send those shadows to another
As their bane.
No doubt a splendid eminence above,
Perceive his aura
Cloaked around the husband left below,
As if to say to him, or any family, or a friend:
“Share our peace.
Cease. Do not retrace your steps,
Lost, as you search for what you have lost,
Nor circle your thoughts obsessively,
Sorry with sorrow. Alone? No.
Someone is always walking you along,
Whether to a Ganges,
Or a sacred river of grass
Where butterfly kindred crowds the sky.
Confident and forward bound, Go,
Seek the gain of your again.”
Amen to that. And yet again, Amen.
!
!
Steven Golden
July 17th, 18th, 19th, 2025
stevengoldenpoetry 