this man
who rose
from humble beginnings
for whom the challenges were many and always met
this man
who was raised in love
and lived it for all his years
for whom love was offered
from all quarters
in every walk of life
for all his years
this man
who made his way
to far away islands
at a tender age
on the back of war
and came home to find his love
a new adventure
this love that lasted a lifetime
that never lost its passion
a love that will never end
this man
whose marriage began in scarcity
who truly built his life
whose skills constructed a family of plenty
from the bones of that scarcity
this man
who raised his rifle to eat
but mostly to be in the wild
with his family
who cherished the land and all its creatures
this man
who nurtured this love in his descendants
who leaves them this legacy
this man
who fathered beautiful children
who bore him beautiful grandchildren
who bore and will bear beautiful great-grandchildren
who will someday bear their own
and pass on tales of their beloved ancestor
this man
who quietly harvested all their love
and returned it multifold
this man
who lived to love
this man
who was well loved in return
this man
worked hard for long years
then settled down to rest
for his winter
with his life-long love
and his morning hot-tubs
and his huevos rancheros
and his tennis
and his fishing trips
and his dove hunting
and his love of his family and friends
this man
who came home
in the end
to rest peacefully
and be
with his family
before departing for his next journey
a new spring
elsewhere
this man
who gifted all he touched
with his kindness and compassion
his generosity
his example of a life well lived
his love love love
what man can live such a dream?
what man could live such dreams?
I knew such a man
but not for long enough
long enough though
to know
Joel Simon was such a man
I am honored
as are we all
to have loved
this man