In Memoriam: David Alway, 1951-2007

[thatcrazycajun]

For those reading this who may not be familiar with the filk-music LJ community (or my friendslist, which is mostly pretty much the same thing), we have had some truly shocking and saddening news this day. Dave Alway, brother of Peter and known on LJ as tnatj, passed away suddenly this morning, apparently of an unexpected heart attack. He had just been at GAFilk 9 with us this past weekend, along with Peter and about 120 or so of his closest friends. I myself bought one of his famous "Duchy of Filkhaven" buttons from him at the con Saturday evening, just prior to the Interfilk auction. Peter's LJ page contains the full story here as well as condolence postings from other LJ filkers, to which you should feel free to add...and a donation to Interfilk in his memory might not go amiss, either.

I cannot add to the wealth of memories and personal knowledge of Dave that others in the community have posted; sad to say, I did not know him all that well myself, though I appreciated his artistry (being a onetime button designer myself) and found him always to be polite and friendly. Since I have no other more personal memories of him than what many shared with him in con filkrooms, house filks and such, I will instead post a poem that I came upon shortly after the death of my mother, over 11 years ago, which gave me comfort. I only hope it can do likewise for Peter and the rest of Dave's family, friends and loved ones. So as to preserve the special formatting and save space, I've placed it behind a cut.

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There Is No Death • John Luckey McCreery (1835-1906)
 

There is no death! The stars go down To rise upon some other shore, And bright in heaven's jeweled crown They shine forevermore. There is no death! The forest leaves Convert to life the viewless air; The rocks disorganize to feed The hungry moss they bear. There is no death! The dust we tread Shall change, beneath the summer showers To golden grain, or mellowed fruit, Or rainbow-tinted flowers. There is no death! The leaves may fall, And flowers may fade and pass away — They only wait, through wintry hours, The warm, sweet breath of May. There is no death! The choicest gifts That heaven hath kindly lent to earth Are ever first to seek again The country of their birth. And all things that for growth or joy Are worthy of our love or care, Whose loss has left us desolate, Are safely garnered there.

Though life becomes a desert waste, We know its fairest, sweetest flowers, Transplanted into paradise, Adorn immortal bowers. The voice of birdlike melody That we have missed and mourned so long, Now mingles with the angel choir In everlasting song. There is no death! Although we grieve When beautiful, familiar forms That we have learned to love are torn From our embracing arms — Although with bowed and breaking heart, With sable garb and silent tread, We bear their senseless dust to rest, And say that they are "dead," They are not dead! They have but passed Beyond the mists that blind us here Into the new and larger life Of that serener sphere.

They have but dropped their robe of clay To put their shining raiment on; They have not wandered far away — They are not "lost” nor "gone." Though disenthralled and glorified They still are here and love us yet; The dear ones they have left behind They never can forget. And sometimes, when our hearts grow faint Amid temptations fierce and deep, Or when the wildly raging waves Of grief or passion sweep, We feel upon our fevered brow Their gentle touch, their breath of balm; Their arms enfold us, and our hearts Grow comforted and calm. And ever near us, though unseen, The dear, immortal spirits tread — For all the boundless universe Is life — there are no dead!

  

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Amen.

Comments

[filkferengi]

Yea, verily. Thanks for sharing this!

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your post.