What to say? You should have had
another score
at very least
of years and music making
my genial friend
it's hard to find the words
to tell how much we miss you
miss your kindness
humor and deep intelligence
that brought so many of us
into the warm circle of your love
lover of horses, people
women in particular
but also in particular Vivaldi
Bach and Telemann
all things baroque
recorders, oboes
archlutes, harpsichords

I remember how we two
drove to Seattle
to requisition parts for a French instrument
a harpsichord you wanted me to build
and how we laughed
the whole way up the interstate
for me more laughter in one day
than in the entire year
prior to our trip

You made yourself a home
out of a barn
and lived completely
off the grid
on 12 volt solar
with an outdoor shitter
in the back
and horses that you rode
and bred for colts
the house half taken up
with a hand-bellowed forge
with which you made
not only horse gear
but exquisite music stands
fireplace tongs and pokers
kitchen spatulas
such as the one you made
for me and Carroll
putting your own and our
initials on the blade

On your bookshelves
along with printed music
Patrick O'brian's twenty volume set
of sea yarns and the diary of Samuel Pepys
unlikely there are many English readers
besides yourself who've worked
their way through that detailed account
of London life back in the sixteen hundreds

Of your creations
I think you'd agree
that the most splendid
was the orchestra
you founded and directed
the Jefferson Baroque
with its performances
of period music played
on period instruments
you on recorder, oboe
and your voice
beautifully resonant
suited both for the music
and to engage the audience
with welcoming remarks
that drew the listeners
into that space
where they could take in fully
what the evening offered

there's so much I could say
so much to thank you for
but bringing us together
myself and Carroll
whom you too had loved
and who'd loved you
for me this is the gift
for which no words of thanks
gestures of gratitude
could ever be sufficient

So you live on
sealed in the hearts
of those who've loved you
including we musicians of your orchestra
remembering the music that your brought
into our lives
which still plays on in memory
I think of you and start to hear the voices
of boxwood flute, baroque oboe
and flauto dolce
singing sweetly over figured bass
I know no better form of immortality