A Gentle Man Poem by Bryan Taplits

(Sherman was the kind of man-
when he drifted from consciousness
to sod-
It's unlikely that he ever took offense
nor likely that he ever became angry
with God.)
The service was appropriate, a somber and reticent fest,
we said our goodbyes-in our pews-to Sherm,
a valued friend,
And we wished dear Sherm the best
of all of our best.
The morning glory is unexcelled when be-ribboned by the morning's sleepy dew,
but Sherman Brown bloomed best of all-
In morning or night, Spring or Fall-
as all of us who knew him
knew.
A funeral's not funereal
when memories are not far at bay,
of someone who we once all knew
has died
but still is not far away.
Unreservedly a friend,
unabashedly a sweetness found-
Though his name was not associated with some king or President-
Fortunate we all were,
to know and remember Sherman James Brown.
(Only one thing he did
That caused me such sorrow-
an always-with-me vile feat-
Why did Sherm wait so long
before chanting Sherm's song
Why did Sherm wait so-
until we could meet.)

Many thought he was challenged
But I think a prophet from the Lord up above,
I believe he was a seraph or angel
And the rest of us actually
were more challenged-
then he ever will be or was.