"Blaze, blaze at this good night!" A Christmas villanelle for David Hartsough

Knowing David Hartsough has been one of the great blessings of my life. David is a true Quaker and one of the most amazing peace activists I've ever met. He's been involved with peace and justice work since his teenage years and started the Nonviolent Peace Force and World Without War. He's also been arrested countless times at peace and civil rights demonstrations. He is currently involved with the Poor People's Campaign and efforts to avoid conflict with China and Russia. He has also written a fascinating book called "Waging Peace: Global Adventures of a Lifelong Peace Activist," which I highly recommend.

Sadly, David was diagnosed with blood cancer 17 months ago and was given only a few months to live. But as Norman Cousins once said, "Don't deny the diagnosis, deny the verdict." David's cancer journey hasn't been easy, but he has made the best of it and set a shining example. As Christmas 2022 approaches, David is still alive and working for peace and enjoying life to the fullest. He recently went to Yosemite with his family, he still bikes around Haight Ashbury where he lives, and he looks for to going to Washington DC and getting arrested with the Poor People's Campaign. It was such a joy to talk with him via Zoom this week since I had a chance to see his famous smile. It was also a joy to receive a Christmas card from David and his wife Jan that showed them smiling with a spectacular sunset in the background.

As I reflected on this picture, I was reminded of Dylan Thomas' famous villanelle, "Do not go gently into that good night."  Inspired by this poem, I was led to write this villanelle for David. I was also inspired by these words from Luke's Gospel: "Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the paths of peace" (Luke 1:48-79).  These word sum up for the me the life of my amazing friend David Hartsough.

Go, gentle Friend

 

(A villanelle inspired by David Hartsough)

Go, gentle friend, into that good night:

Blaze, blaze at close of day

You’ve been the change that brings the light,

 

Stood up with us to do what’s right,

Shown the world that love’s the way

With a smile that makes the dark seem bright

 

With a smile that puts all fears to flight

With songs that lift us, let us pray

That wars will vanish in the night

 

Vanish like a dream at dawn’s first light

As weapons of war are tossed away

Songs of peace bring pure delight

 

Smile at this amazing sight

This sunset leads to the milky way

Stars a-blaze in the dead of night

 

Then comes new dawn, and new delight

Old friends and new, what can we say?

Words can’t express this brave new light

So blaze, blaze at this good night!

 

 

This picture was taken last summer when we went with David to see the dahlias at Golden Gate Park.