Gordon deLima Hamilton (1964-1993). A lively and spirited soul passed on this day 17 years ago. A year before he was diagnosed with cancer, Gordon shared some premonitions with me that he would not be on this earth long. One came in the form of a poem that he discovered while studying for his teaching degree. He tape recorded himself reading it and sent me the tape, while I was traveling in Brazil. This is a picture of Gordon on his 27th birthday. And here is the poem he left me:
REMEMBER by Christina Rossetti
Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you planned:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve;
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.
