By damommy
This is the first post in the book created for Michael Cahill, a beloved FanStory member. Never did I hear him say an unkind word, and he was always ready to lend a helping hand and support. He was always kind and gracious to me. I considered him my friend, but he was a friend to all. He did so much to promote writers of all genres, and I learned a lot from him, as I know many have.
Here's to Michael! May perpetual light shine upon him.
By damommy
I'd always wished for extraterrestrial intelligence because those folks move their memories around like furniture with just a wriggle of their antennae. After some introspection I've come to believe too many Sci-Fi movies planted that thought in my brain because there's no such thing as alien intelligence. But some people do have their minds set on making a whole lot of something out of a whole lot of nothing. Some people even call it writing.
There are certain people in possession of the Balm of Gilead; the royal perfume; an extra quality that makes them special. Michael was one of those people. He was my coach throughout the whole year I played the ranking game. He never offered a single bit of advice or input on what to write about, but he would kick me in the butt if I sat idle for too long staring off into space wondering what ET was up to. While I needed that nudge out of my normal state of inertia, the most important thing he did was offer solace when some brand new, and soon to vanish member, had taken it as their sworn oath of duty to deliver me a string of low star reviews on account of just because.
Mike always dispatched these aggravating reviews with movie quotes. He'd say, "He's smarter than I am. Three years old and he can read the funny papers." That made me laugh, even though The Godfather wasn't my movie. Still isn't. What kind of movie is that anyway? It sounds long and possibly boring too.
Or, this, "So, Lone Starr, now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb." It appeared I wasn't abreast of my Spaceballs quotes either. I'm pretty sure Mike figured after a while I was movie illiterate and unless one of his motivational quotes involved Sling Blade or No Country For Old Men all he got from me was dumb silence.
"What's the most you ever lost on a coin toss?"
"I don't know. I couldn't say."
"Call it."
Some folks has asked me, "If you had it to do over again, would you do it the same way? Well, I reckon I would. Seein' how they seen fit to put me in here, and here I been for a great long while."
Don't ask me how any of that makes a lick of sense now but it was just the thing at the time. And of all these created places, fictions and characters I just didn't even think of what I would do if someone died. And then someone did die, and that was not in the script.
All I can say is, Mike, go forth with your blazing saddles and rocking horse silhouette into the moonlight and Joshua trees. May you find your mystical blue rose, blossoming in the middle of the ocean somewhere in the universe, because no matter where you are, your creative light will always shine.
| Author Notes |
Mike was very fond of a little rocking horse he got for Christmas when he was about five, so this tribute alludes to that moment of sheer happiness in his life.
Many thanks for reading. |
By damommy
| Author Notes |
Many thanks to cleo for the lovely artwork for my memorial
free verse for Mike Cahill. RIP |
By damommy
I remember when you first joined Fanstory, Michael, you were a breath of fresh air that burst onto the scene with so much enthusiasm. You wanted to learn, and my goodness, you did. Not only did you improve, you helped everyone on here improve and widen their genres. You were such a kind, generous man, and one of a kind. There's too few of your type in the world, and now there is one less.
We will all miss you, my friend. Safe journey.
By damommy
Mikey, you came to this site with a zest that was inspirational. You wanted to learn, and you learned and improved for all to see. You were never shy of giving a helping hand. You were indeed a breath of fresh air.
It's with a heavy heart that I write this. You will be sorely missed on this site. I want to thank you for your great sense of humour and for your generosity. Yes, you will be missed by so many. Thank you, and rest in peace.
| Author Notes | Thanks to cleo85 for the use of the artwork. |
By damommy
SAVE THE LAST WORD FOR ME
We could write many words about this man
A man who's touched our hearts
Taken from us by God's grand plan
Now his true writing really starts
Not many here have not been blessed
With a review, a comment or reply
I think his words sum up him best
And he knows the reasons why
We all share his love of the written word
We all share a part of his world
Michael's support could be read and heard
As each comment and review unfurled
Always a man with a helping hand
No matter your point of view
Every FanStorian would understand
His compassion and intentions always true
His words had a way that were just so him
Whether in prose or verse
Ready to respond on every whim
Through his great pen he'd immerse
"A poet's poet" I suppose one would say
As each verse he composed from each key
So sadly missed, so sadly taken away
Your FansStory family say R.I.P.
Lest we forget
Write on you crazy diamond
Xdip and your Fanstory family
| Author Notes |
This is my humble tribute to a man who lived FanStory from day one. We came here around the same time and his impact and popularity just grew each day.
You will be certainly missed Michael I had posted this Yesterday but I am trying to add it to Damommy's tribute book So i had to change the title R.I.P. |
By damommy
Mike, I want to thank you for being the person who greeted each one in Fan Story.
I think you helped all who struggled and I think you did this without glory.
The poet consummate you strove for most to succeed, take note and thrive.
You nurtured young, old and you offered your wisdom as you set them to drive.
Inside their minds, you challenged their creativity, the technical, the ability to show.
You held fast, offered strength, you presented facts; this worked and helped everyone to grow.
Your words; your light; was something unmatched. I wish I had more time to understand.
The knowledge you amassed, you were so kind, generous and what you gave to us was so grand!
A welcome wagon with a master's flair I knew you were something special from day one.
Opening peoples minds every day just to say hello, you eliminated fear and helped get things done.
I looked for your help and found emptiness instead, with the dread of this news.
Mike the sage who I turned to get answers and bounce ideas back and forth without refuse.
You're not there now and I don't know what to do. I am a little lost at times because of you.
I admired you so much, I felt like you lead us, each day with something of value.
So I want you to know that I go back over everything that I kept, that you wrote.
It is important to me that I hold on to it! I will refer to it regularly, your note.
As I picture you climbing your way up the stairway to heaven. I think as you so loved music.
Everyone wrote how much they were stunned and they may have found it therapeutic.
When I share my feelings of loss, I make my wish for your family with the utmost respect.
It is only because I know I must, I hear your voice it's telling me to write... connect.
I hope that you can hear us all and know how much you're loved and missed.
I made some art from my Zeppelin cover and the CD for all to get the gist.
So now I will promote for the book that damommy and Gloria have worked on so hard.
There are so many who will help to fill the loss of your welcome wagon and try to guard.
The newcomers who struggle each day to get by and figure out the forum that we love;
Nights will be spent reminiscing and recalling the words and deeds that you spoke of.
I won't forget and I will try to help others the way you did.
And try to follow the example of how you lived.
You are one of the angels now in my mind,
I don't think you'll ever be left behind.
So for your family Mike in closing I would like to say
I hope all us writers meet up with you again someday.
Fonda
| Author Notes | For Mike and his family |
By damommy
| Author Notes |
I call the form of this valedictory poem to the late Michael Cahill a Dahquain Plus. Michael once confessed to me that he hated to be called 'Mikey', so I will not refer to this friend to all of us on FanStory by anything other than his full given name.
The Dahquain form was invented by D.A. Hemingway, aka, DianeAH on Allpoetry.com. Therefore her original form is a derivation from her initials, and the standard quatrain. It features a unique rhyming pattern that uses repeating rhyme words (word refrains). Ends with a separate rhyming couplet. (So the poem has 14 lines or more) The capital letters indicate that the words are identical. In the rhyme pattern indicated below, the capitals contain word refrains. The 'plus' is my own embellishment. It carries the end rhyme from the second line of each quatrain into the end rhyme of the subsequent quatrain's first line, linking the quatrains with rhyme. That then becomes the rhyming pattern for the two final lines. The second line in the fourth quatrain similarly leads into the couplet via its end rhyme (here it is the near rhyme known as consonance, already used in the choose/prose rhyme). While consonance finds difficulty in acceptance as a rhyme form within the ranks of FanStory, it is generally considered acceptable to the poetic world outside. Playing with this experiment, I found it led to some interesting enjambment, including enjambment from one quatrain to the next. Care should therefore be taken to read this with attention to the punctuation. The poem should then take on some of the aural attributes of the type of free verse of which I believe Michael would have approved. I simply could not resist the temptation to take this one step further and return to the A rhyme giving the poem circularity as in some French forms. The meter is iambic Tetrameter written in Quatrains. The rhyme scheme is: (A1)b(A2)(A2), bcBB, cdCC, daDD, a(A1). 4 stanzas (including couplet), |
By damommy
"Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum"
Dear friend, for you
may angels weep
and hold you fast
in sacred sleep.
Your gifted soul, from heaven sent,
will ever shine
amidst the firmament.
| Author Notes |
Quote from Nisi Dominus, which is a setting of the Latin text of Psalm 127. Translation: For so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Firmament def: the heavens (the sky, especially perceived as a vault in which the sun, moon, stars, and planets are situated) I do not know if Michael was particularly religious, but I do love the idea of death as a well-deserved rest, and I love the idea of him being among the constellations. |
By damommy
| Author Notes |
RIP, Michael, my friend.
You will be missed... |
By damommy
I wish I'd known that gentle soul
who helped my friends make writing whole
Who mentored poets in their art
Whose verse was free and from his heart
I hoped I'd learn from him this year
It's not to be, I sadly fear
I hope in loving memory
like Michael all of us would be
| Author Notes | In my two years year, I only reviewed a few of Michael's poems so I didn't get to really know him. But from all that has been shared, he sounds like a wonderful person and we should all strive to be like him and encourage each other. |
By damommy
He was a better man than me,
as I was often sad to see
that his performance bested me;
I am so troubled now.
He seems the kind to help and share,
as many can attest and swear
to his friendship; he was there
to show the people how...
I will not ever see that side,
the one who helped; the kindly guide;
but I salute as, with the tide,
he launches at the bow.
By damommy
Only knew his cyber touch
That gentle stroke every time
whether from reviews
or the treasures of his mind.
Rest in Peace, Michael Cahill
| Author Notes |
Websites, such as FanStory, exist in cyber space, where you can reach out and be touched by people from around the world., become friends, and never actually meet. Michael's touch was special. He will be sorely missed.
Author's photograph. |
By damommy
| Author Notes | I can no longer recall the writing prompt, but I do remember Michaels response...He told me, "The Irish ( because of the twinkle in their eyes) have a pass into Heaven." Clearly, we had to be friends. From that point on, he was known as my Irish brother. Truly a beautiful, caring soul. A constant source of encouragement. He will be missed. |
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