The Conquistador
for Grant Keller
We all gathered
sharing stories and laughter
and of course, some tears
we were sad, not for your partingfrom this world, rather
for your parting from us
we laughed again at the pictures
-one of you dressed as a conquistador
has stuck in my memory
I think of you and how you conquered
life’s challenges, blazing
your own trail through each
new jungle you faced
you set off to see the world
along with it’s beauty, you witnessed
its underbelly, returning home
you turned to seek a salve
for wounds apparent or otherwise
undaunted by the rituals
of marriage, fatherhood and divorce
-or so it seemed,
then as you aged, or maybe
it was our aging and perspective,
chinks in the armor appeared
we were allowed into the heart
of a man who had seen it all
and stared it down
for so many years
we only saw the face
of the warrior,
a soldier to the end
rest now dear uncle
your fight is done
you have vanquished all
save for Man’s ultimate enemy
