From: suzzieuk (Original Message) Sent: 9/14/2003 2:36 AM

Would any of you be willing to give some time, some spare webspace to create a classy 'words of comfort' site that we can dedicate to Monk. Or perhaps you'd be willing to write a poem or bit of prose, or create a picture for it.

The site will be part of Dome 2... a kind of memorial garden... where I too can have a bench named after me one day. A small nit of immortality... but the best I can think of?

So... who's interested?

and there followed... 



Beyond the Doorway
  
   Yesterday, today and each tomorrow
   I feel a reflection of our deep sorrow
   Since you passed through the doorway
   To where the corporeal holds no sway.

   This two way mirror of sadness
   That shows me your weariness
   Tells me you feel the loneliness
   As our souls cry in the darkness.

   You fought so hard to stay with us
   You endured so much with no fuss.
   You worked so hard in unseen ways
   For humanity despite your lost days.

   Tears will not extinguish your light
   As the precious memories stay bright
   Of the love and happiness we shared
   As you showed how much you cared.
    
   Now you need to replenish your energy
   Whilst we pay honour to your memory.
   Know that we miss you as you miss us too.
   For death does not stop you being you.
   
             You are who you are.
             Alpha Omega Alpha


For Martin, The Best and Brightest of Lights,
     With All My Love Always And Forever
                       by Amethyst
                 15th November 2003





Rest In Peace

Now I may sleep
And rest at last
Free from the pain
Of the recent past

Released from sorrow
In loved ones' eyes
Deaf to hushed pity
And guilty sighs

Now I can slumber
Never to wake
No more pills
No more ache

Hush now Darling
Don't you cry
I've found some peace
And my spirit can fly

Out to the stars
Or to Heaven above
Where I can watch over
All those that I love

My body has expired
We are physically apart
But I am eternal
Living on in your heart
. 
© Christine L. Coles - September 2003



Once I knew a gentle man 
whose life spilled into mine
He doted over what I wrote
Without a care in time
His life was elegant and fair
his soul reached out to me
He could not hide an inner care
his love was plain to see.
 
Then time eclipsed this tender man
as time is want to do
He journeyed on to other souls
to touch and love in their lives too.
If sainthood ever belonged to one
of mortal life and making
Then surely he has met that mode
I'll miss this saint now taken
 
Inside a teardrop washes my heart
and I'm glad for his example
As are the many souls he touched
during his swift life's travel.
Farewell dear Monk and Godspeed
your spirit to boundless worlds
Where peace and love reign flawless
as the beauty written in your words.
 
Theory 



I Have To Go

The time has arrived and I have to go,
My departure has been so very slow,
But now I cannot wait another day,
Yet there are so many words left to say.
I want to tell you that I am at peace,
I want to ask you to be happy please,
I want to let you know I am still here,
I will help you fight your every fear.
I want to say, "I love you" one more time,
I want to tell you, you’ll always be mine,
And I want to look you straight in the eye,
And be able to beg you not to cry.
I want to tell you I’m not far away,
Even though you can’t see me everyday,
I want to tell you I will guard you still,
All your shadows I will help light to fill.
I want you to know I’ll be in your heart,
Even though we have been forced to part,
I want to say "Think of me and I’ll be there",
Still full of emotion and full of care.
I want to tell you it’ll all be ok,
We will be together again one day,
So until that day this must be good-bye,
Don't be sad; Please don't cry.

© Carrie Anne Bonnington



for Martin
 
Come close now, and closer still;
look deep into my eyes
and deeper yet.
 
Do you see that light
beyond sickness' blemish
and behind the pain of loss?
 
That is the beacon of freedom
and there lies my path; 
I would follow it with a skip
to my heart and my tread,
knowing this is my time.
 
I have done my best.
 
And when it is your time,
my friend, companion,
do you follow that same beacon
down that same path, 
with the same lilt to heart and step.
 
There you will find me waiting,
A warm smile to greet,
and a warmer embrace.

Mike Daniels



Listen

How can I be gone,
when you still hold the best of me;
when I make you smile,
through memories, whispers on the breeze?
I am your echo
when you call from the dark places
and your shadow
when the sun refuses to shine.
Rest in the night
until new light breaks,
then reach for the sky, for life, for love
and hear my yes, yes,
in the swash of waves on the shore
and the rustle of fresh spring leaves.
 
Phoebe 



You sleep now - you passed on -
away from pain and distress.
For the sake of peace and
old memories - you passed on
 
For the sake of you and all
you meant and will still mean
you took another road
and we'll meet you there one day.
 
You dream now - and so do we-
the same dream silently shared,
and we wish you well as we say goodbye
until we meet again on your road.
 
dedicated to the memory of our dear friend Martin
Bernadette

I wanted to do this, but somehow I just couldn't. It seemed trite, as though whatever I said couldn't really do justice and maybe Martin's own words speak well enough for him.

I liked many of his pieces that he contributed to the dome - including some of his less gentle ones. I'm sure he wrote about a baby girl lying dead in a gutter in China, and a rather humorous ode to his vomit, though it could be I'm confusing him with someone else. And didn't he do a wonderfully evocative tale of a child befriending an old man on a remote island like Orkney?

Unmistakable, though, was his powerful descriptions on facing death in the thread, my last poem, which conveyed wisdom, beauty, and a great deal about him as a person. If he were my father, or my partner, I would have been proud of him.

Shona 



With love I tend ... sweet one
 
There's a box sat in an empty attic
dust mouse trails show life
I know if I tell them the mouse is there
a cheese laden trap will soon arrive
the old ragged lace across the window
grey now, aged, fragile
even the whisper of my breath
would shatter, blow it away
I know that if I tell them
the lace will soon disappear
the paint is yellow, a long time cracked
yet it's beautiful with it splatters of black 
the window broken and on sunny days
prisms of light.. shine wondrous rays..
the garden is over grown
cider apples..with wasp burns decay
honeysuckle blossom now crispened
announce my weight 
I sat upon the broken swing
as I have so many times before
sweeping green eyes across this spectre of delight
the door unhinged to an unheard scream
rickety stairs hide just out of sight
creaks and moans pitifully hang in the air.
In the box in the attic... a shirt that you wore
still the scent of you prevails
you with your travelling dreams
I smile as I watch them escape
I blow gently so they will fly high....
 
Julie...

Martin and I had been friends for a while, we chatted almost daily about life, love, children (yes Cassie I know all about you :) and some sadness.

We had a lot in common due to having suffered painful childhoods, we would share stories and be surprised at how similar our experiences were. When I was low or down he would pick me up offering kind words and a shoulder to cry on. Sometimes Martin felt down and I would do the same for him, making him laugh at something daft I had embarrassed myself with. We emailed each other for month's, poems. stories or just hiya, how ya doing letters.

Martin often used to tell me about his yearnings to travel he felt he had to do before it was too late. I loved listening to his plans and hoped he would manage to make them come true.. It was due to this I wrote him the poem With love I tend sweet one... He inspired me with his great strength and determination that despite his illness he would travel.. and I hoped and prayed this would happen for him.

I was at college one day and on arriving home opened my emails to find four emails waiting!!! I was surprised and worried too because Martins health could be volatile. Anyway on opening the first mail it read Julie I am in your City fancy meeting up and having a natter?? this was at 2pm.. I didn't finish my college until 3.30pm so I was anxious, opening the other emails they were of a similar thread time, date and his whereabouts. The last one said I am in the library if I don't receive an email from you by 4.pm I will know you are out still... This was 3.45!!!!

I mailed back quickly giving Martin my phone number and letting him know I was home. He rang at 5pm and I was so pleased he had got my email in time.

We arranged to meet at 7.30pm and have a meal. When I arrived at the place he was staying I had to meet him in the bar... I had to look around carefully not knowing which man would be Martin.. My eyes alighted on a friendly smile and I knew straight away it was him.. we got a drink at the bar and to be honest we never stopped talking!! I had imagined some uncomfortable silences or wondering what next to say but that didn't happen! Martin was a gentle, friendly soul who was as comfortable with me as I was with him.

We went out to eat. Martin had beef in beer and a beer lol and had me in fits of laughing about his adventure the night before, he had decided he would camp and had gone for a little walk only to get lost, he wandered about trying to find his camp as it grew darker and darker. He really had a way with words making situations seem hilarious.

We had a lovely evening great chat and a very nice meal all made the better for having a great friend there. I count myself so lucky that Martin and I got to meet and share some fun and laughter. He was a wonderful kindly man who cared so deeply for the human race, the planet and the environment. We shared a special friendship and a love of writing and I feel richer and most blessed that Martin was my friend.

Martins Great love for his family was wonderful, he told me daily of his daughter Cassie who was his pride and great joy, they shared a special bond with many days filled with chuckles and so much fun.. Cassie gave Martin so much joy, each day she breathed life into him with their many stories and games, he re-lived his childhood with her his greatest hope was she would grow up happy and having a dad like Martin I know she must have been delirious!

Where ever he is and what ever place his journey's take him, I know Martin will meet it with a gentle kindly heart, touching all who meet him with an honesty and sincerity you seldom find in people these days... I know he will be happy and will fulfil his many plans of travel. Martins talent will never be lost his stories and poetry will live in our hearts forever.

Julie

Martin

My dearest brother who has departed these shores so swiftly, I wish thee a favourable current and pleasant gentle blowing wind to guide you on your way to your next port of call. May your bright light of your soul shine the way ahead for you.

We have shared some twenty years of friendship and a lifetime of caring, sharing and loving. Martin, you are such a bright light in my life. I am so sorry to see you go from this physical world, but I am glad for you, that you are free of pain and not beholden nor restricted in anyway any longer.

You have been and will always be a shining beacon, a brightness of light so grand and intense, that it will burn for all time. Your creativeness in this world has made you immortal here. With your gentle and original words, you have touched and will touch many more lives in the years ahead.

It has been an honour to share the time we have had here, and an honour more so to hold you dearly in my heart and soul forever.

During your time of pain, you brightness gained in intensity, and clarity, burning with the desire of life, with a sense of purpose, with understanding, with courage and with peace.

You are a Shining Light dear brother; your light of honesty, your light of courage, your light of sound reasoning, your light of originality, your light of creativity and your light of individuality will always burn brightly for me in my heart & soul and for those that knew you today and in times past.

Love you always and forever
Your friend and brother
James 



           M A R T I N   T O U C H E D   U S  

Martin touched us profoundly
He was a rare jewel indeed
In life he strove to spread love and peace
And we should all live by his creed

We consider it an honour
To celebrate the life of the man
We must follow his example
And all do the best that we can

All of us are proud to love him
He touched our hearts one by one
Bringing us hope for humanity
Not forgetting his great sense of fun

None of us will forget Martin
He’ll live in our hearts for always
If you give him the chance to let him
He will guide you in his good ways

It isn’t goodbye to Martin
As we will all see him again
He touched us all with his wisdom
Inside us all - burns his flame

(In Memory of Martin the dearest friend anyone could have
 Sent with love and gratitude always from Caz, Karl and Jack)



 



Your weapon was a sword
Your sword was words and pen
A mighty warrior indeed
As such I may never meet again
 
I shall miss you so
Even if I now know
That you had to go
I shall miss you so
 
 
in memory of 
Martin Enticknap

How I would like to play 
a song for you now 
We would be happy 
and we would be free 
lost in the thoughts 
of our minds 
We would be happy 
We would be free 
 
Odyssey Flight





 




The lighthouse stands strong, determined, unwavering as it shines its endless light over the rough sea below; knowing no distance, no concept of time. The only quest is to be there; to shine the light of safety, to guide the lost,to protect the souls who have found their way through the ocean, passing the jagged rocks; climbing to shore; tired; bruised... but with the will to go on. Nothing can touch them now. Not the depth of the ocean, the pounding of the waves, the coldness of the air... they are safe! The lighthouse has done his job! The light beams as an eternal smile... peace forever.



Written by Martin’s friend Eileen in memoriam



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