George used to love to recite poetry, and was an avid martial arts enthusiast. He was always good natured, and was truly one of the best people I ever knew. This is a poem I learned from George in high school:
The Cold Within
Six humans trapped by happenstance In bleak and bitter cold. Each one possessed a stick of wood Or so the story’s told.
Their dying fire in need of logs The first man held his back For of the faces round the fire He noticed one was black.
The next man looking ‘cross the way Saw one not of his church And couldn’t bring himself to give The fire his stick of birch.
The third one sat in tattered clothes. He gave his coat a hitch. Why should his log be put to use To warm the idle rich?
The rich man just sat back and thought Of the wealth he had in store And how to keep what he had earned From the lazy shiftless poor.
The black man’s face bespoke revenge As the fire passed from his sight. For all he saw in his stick of wood Was a chance to spite the white.
The last man of this forlorn group Did nought except for gain. Giving only to those who gave Was how he played the game.
Their logs held tight in death’s still hands Was proof of human sin. They didn’t die from the cold without They died from the cold within.
Wow that was amazing. How is it that over the years you could hold on to something like that? This poem says a lot about George and you sharing it says a lot about you. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to seeing you in Sept. Aloha
Thank you,George for being such a lovely human being,which is why have had him on my prayer list for as long as I can remember. And yesterday I was going through something and my phone chimed,I checked my email and there was poem George shared with Eric. After reading it I realized that he has been aware of my prayers and was comforting me! At that moment the clouds parted and sun shone through. I have absolutely no doubt about what happened in that moment. May he continue to rest in peace. Thanks Eric!
Eric D. Gould
George used to love to recite poetry, and was an avid martial arts enthusiast. He was always good natured, and was truly one of the best people I ever knew. This is a poem I learned from George in high school:
The Cold Within
Six humans trapped by happenstance
In bleak and bitter cold.
Each one possessed a stick of wood
Or so the story’s told.
Their dying fire in need of logs
The first man held his back
For of the faces round the fire
He noticed one was black.
The next man looking ‘cross the way
Saw one not of his church
And couldn’t bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.
The third one sat in tattered clothes.
He gave his coat a hitch.
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?
The rich man just sat back and thought
Of the wealth he had in store
And how to keep what he had earned
From the lazy shiftless poor.
The black man’s face bespoke revenge
As the fire passed from his sight.
For all he saw in his stick of wood
Was a chance to spite the white.
The last man of this forlorn group
Did nought except for gain.
Giving only to those who gave
Was how he played the game.
Their logs held tight in death’s still hands
Was proof of human sin.
They didn’t die from the cold without
They died from the cold within.
Steven K. Bledsoe
Wow that was amazing. How is it that over the years you could hold on to something like that? This poem says a lot about George and you sharing it says a lot about you. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to seeing you in Sept. Aloha
Arthur Sanford Gabinet
Wasn't there a picture of George in a kung fu crane pose in our yearbook? He was an amazing guy.
Stacy Trostler
Thank you so much for posting this poem. It is so well said. Thanks for paying tribute to George.
Derek Jones
Thanks Eric. George had a significant impact on my life. Music, Kung Fi, poetry, laughter, protection , all around good friend
Sandra Green (Lewis-Walker)
Thank you,George for being such a lovely human being,which is why have had him on my prayer list for as long as I can remember. And yesterday I was going through something and my phone chimed,I checked my email and there was poem George shared with Eric. After reading it I realized that he has been aware of my prayers and was comforting me! At that moment the clouds parted and sun shone through. I have absolutely no doubt about what happened in that moment. May he continue to rest in peace. Thanks Eric!