geo

sweet, sweet man
   with a generous
heart.

how kind the
   angels were to
make you my
   friend.

in a simpler
   time, i was your
apprentice, & you, my
   boss––

competent, forthright &
   honest beyond
question.

you loved your
   wife & miraculous
child & the glimmering
   waves of the
south jersey
   sea.

from the
   moment our eyes
touched, we trusted
   each other
absolutely.

beyond time &
   circumstance, you
will live in
   me.

you always
   enjoyed my books of
riddles.

   now, you have
entered their
   mystery.

George John Strauch
February 6, 1948-September 11, 2001