A Good Man Gone - for our friend Robin*

Told our cat

that his buddy Robin

wouldn’t be back,

ever.

Think Tom understood,

stayed close,

seeking solace.

Suspect Robin,

being a statistician,

always knew

the odds were poor –

the diagnosis last spring:

colon cancer with metastatsis.

Rounds of chemo,

hospitalizations, weight loss,

Thin to start,

became gaunt.

Robin crossed paths

with my very ill brother-in-law,

sharing a rehab. center,

was kind to Roger

in what became

Roger’s last days.

This is what

was there

as Robin faded -

a core of kindness.

He was a good man

and he is gone.

* John's colleague - and our friend - Robin Reich died on January 3rd. Robin (Dr. Reich) taught statistics at Colorado State University. We were fortunate to have him visit us in Alaska many times and he would "commit science" at our kitchen table. 

Special gratitude to Robin's dear friend Vanessa.