(Photo by Sophie de Witte, 2021.)
i.
All of the mountains in the world
were once volcanoes.
It bears repeating.
All of the mountains in the world
they were once,
each and every one of them,
volcanoes.
And all of us here tonight,
we too are mountains.
Each and every one of us.
And here's the secret,
Nick knew it.
And he wanted me to share it
with all of you.
Underneath our faces and masks
made of rock, ice and snow,
deep down inside...
We are also made
of magic,
of passion,
of flame,
molten fire.
And it pumps
through our veins,
our very heart and soul.
We are (all of us. Here. Tonight.):
Gifted
with a unique
skill or talent,
like no other.
And if we find it.
If we bravely follow this
fire/bliss
where it takes us,
we cannot remain
merely
a mountain.
Yes,
all of us.
All of us
are mountains.
But we are
also
volcanoes.
ii.
In late 2013 I traveled to Mexico
to experience firsthand the Day of the Dead.
And each and every family that I met,
they all (in their own unique ways) told me the following...
A man does not die once.
He dies three times.
The first time
is when his heart stops beating
and his brain no longer functions.
The second time
a man dies
is when his body
is buried or cremated.
And the final (third) time
that a man dies...
Is the last time on this earth
that someone
utters his name.
iii.
Nick Knox,
Man / Mountain / Volcano.
I will remember you...
I will tell people about you,
your life and your music...
And I will never stop saying your name.
(c) Brent M Harpur, 2021.
(For Nick and everyone
who continues to say your name.)
"We are all asleep on a goldmine, on a wellspring of energy, on a volcano of creativity, on unbelievable reserves of genuine love. Everything is there to form a more human world."
(Andre Rochais)
Footnote:
This poem was first performed at "Shine On", a Memorial Concert for Nick at 'Bark' (Dog With Two Tails) in Dunedin on the 8th May, 2021. Below is a link to some of the edited highlights of the evening, which recently showed on Channel 39. I perform two poems and my set starts around 30min54sec. BIG thank you to the people who lovingly & delicately captured this very special evening on film. You can view it here:
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