Poetic Tribute For Dean Santos
Val Fowler
The Memorial Concert for Dean Santos was touching, moving, inspiring, heart-felt, a true honoring of a fine person, and a joy to be a part of. We exceeded our 100 attendee Zoom limit, and apologize to those who were thus unable to get in. The full concert can be accessed through our Golden Link Folk Singing Society Facebook page. If you do bring it up, I think you will find, as I did, that the sign language interpreters were just as joyful and engaging as those who participated. They are fun to watch …. especially the interpretation of the poem below!
The Concert began with a poem written by Beth Sleboda, who gave permission to share it with you.
Rejoice! The Voice of Dean lives on
in memories and song.
You might think it is silent, now…
but you would be so wrong.
Was it Dean’s choice to use his voice
to soothe, inspire—to feed the fire
of causes, just? He knew he MUST
share the wisdom and the love
that lived within his soul.
It was a CALLING, not a choice
to make others whole.
I invite you to relax.
Breathe in … breathe out…
Imagine you are a baby
in your mother’s womb.
Now, think of Dean’s voice
as am…ni...otic…fluid.
Let it rock you
and warm you
and nourish you
in such a way as to allow you
to grow and develop until you
are ready to go into the world
and use your own voice to
sing
your
own
song!
Rejoice! The Voice of Dean lives on!
And on…and on…and on…and on.
We are, indeed, forever blessed!
~ Written by Beth Ely Sleboda, in memory of Dean Santos