Instructions -

[Lux]

A Poem by Rev. Arnold Crompton

When I have moved beyond you in the adventure of life,
Gather in some pleasant place
And there remember me with spoken words,
old and new. Let a tear fall if you will,
but let a smile come quickly
For I have loved the laughter of life.

Do not linger too long with your solemnities,
Go eat, and drink, and talk
And when you can -
Follow a woodland trail Climb a high mountain
Sleep beneath the stars Swim in a cold river
Chew the thoughts of some book that challenges your soul
Use your hands some bright day
to make a thing of beauty.
Or to lift someone’s heavy load.

Though you mention not my name,
Though no thought of me crosses your mind-
I shall be with you
For these have been the realities of life to me.
And when you face some crisis with anguish -
When you walk alone with courage
When you choose your paths of right
When you give yourself in love
I shall be very close to you.
I have followed the valleys,
I have climbed the heights of life.

[bottlecar]

Thanks Lux, that's lovely.

How did your farewell of your pappy go? I was thinking that this verse was suited for him.

[misilon]

hello lux Im sorry to know about your koro pappy,..

was there a marae tangi for him or???

so many just have them at home now because it is so expensive to have them even at the marae now

im sure you have lovely stories to tell about him just like all of us,... so tell us some sometime please

I like to read those sorts ot stories

[Lux]

No Marae or tangi, my grandfather requested a very Pakeha funeral, he said put me in a cardboard box and send me up the chimney. so we did.

He had a simple but lovely send off, a couple of readings the one above and 'Driftin' on' by Barry Crump. Played some of his music and a couple of hymns which he loved. And family friends told some stories of hunting and camping and family times.

I wanted them to put his shaver in with him but apparently you can't for a cremation, I used to love rubbing my cheek on his after his morning shave He did take the ashes of his faithful friend 'Sam' the spoilt rotten dog with him.