Haiku XXI In memoriam John Kearns.

Paddling my own canoe:

Peace pipes over the water

Bring John Kearns to mind.


John Kearns died circa 23rd March 2007: atheist, Stalinist, professional Irishman, he died at the heart of the establishment, his memorial service being celebrated this day at Fitzwilliam Coll. Cambridge.

Today, being banned from the service, I paddled for eight and a half hours from Souillac to Le Port. Just after lunctime I reached the cliffs just before the village of Grolejac and heard the gentle celtic pipes being played on the opposite bank, John loved the peace pipes as he called them and was always keen to distinguish them from the Scottish pipes, the war pipes. I hope the angels enjoy your company as much as we did... or will it be the devils keeping you company? Well the grand and petit bourgeoise seem to have survived you and are pretty well intact, so it'll probably be the angels...