To a dear friend. Soul brother, surfer, path finder, fellow recoverer. You are missed and loved.
Dear friend
tell me
what happens to all that love
energy
struggle
humour
light
to the commitment
the dedication
to the path
to us
to you, to kindness.
What happens
to the breath you left
as you exhaled
on that final wave?
Your ocean
what happens
to all those years in wild water?
How will the sea be without you?
What happens
to each season that touched you
the rise of spring
the dropping into winter
staring up at these bright stars?
The thousands of miles underfoot
in these holding hills
your skin
kissing the skin of the earth.
What happens
to all you brought here
made, loved
these many lives you touched
what now?
... us
We are your life here now
we are what happens next
coming together
across soft ground
holding images
moments
of you
that’s our gratitude
for all you gave
our call to loss and love.
We are altered irrevocably
by your kindness.
You shining, wriggling
joy machine
with your wild
salty eye on the world
glimmers of mischief
grief stricken
lost and found
you changed me
with the way you saw the sea
(in Kernow dialect!)
‘Get your fekkin head down and paddle bay’ is what you said.
And I did!
Still do.
May your journey from here
be free from suffering
go wherever there is peace
know we love you
miss you
dear friend
all of you, Andy West coast
all of you.
—————
Andy West
1970-2020
All my love - Caspar x
See you in the water bay!
Photo by Faith Burch