poemata schneck

every spirit comes
into this
world with a
blessing & a
gift.

the blessing is
the fire of
life & the gift is the
seed of
self, like no
other.

william wendell may
took the fire of life &
he married
marguerite marie o’connor.

with his gift
of honor
he became a right
fair lawyer
finding goodness
in the heart of
the law & in the
hearts of
men.

out of his love bond
came generations of
children of
beauty and good faith

& in the fullness of
his practice of
the law,
he became a
judge.

judge william wendell may
sat on the bench of
of prince william county
virginia for nearly 20
years.

people came to
him for justice––
all received their
due & a special gift of
dignity––

how the integrity
of a man
enfolds the litigants,
the verdict & the
law––

calms the
hissing demons of
self-interest––

& shares the
heartfulness that
makes men
wise.

such is the gift of
william wendell may
which we receive with
thanks & wonder––

hold deeply
in our chests &
pass on proudly.