Reading these poems got me thinking of death. Aren't there any cheery skydiving tunes? Anyway, death and my first skydive are closely linked so I went and wrote this little ditty. Dedicated to a former co-worker named Phil.
I doubt I would be jumping
but for the cancer that Phil had.
He invited, I said yes.
I even brought my dad.
My father and myself,
and 4 from the office crew,
all drove out to the DZ
to jump into the big blue.
We landed and we laughed.
We each shared our thrill.
Some of us jumped again.
At least one never will.
We all had quite a blast,
Phil the most of all,
even though he knew
that death was coming to call.
In two weeks it was whitewater.
I didn’t have the cash.
But I’d hang with Phil again
at his office birthday bash.
There was no birthday party
‘cause the cancer took Phil down.
I got word second hand
that he was quickly loosing ground.
Phil died soon thereafter
We all missed his smile.
But work and life continued.
Another day, another mile
It’s been almost 10 years now
and I don’t think of him often.
Time heals all wounds
and the sorrow will soften.
But on the way up to altitude,
and at 135 miles per hour,
and hanging under the canopy,
there’s GOT to be some power
That let’s Phil see my smile…………
*130 mph, unpowered, straight down*