Lieutenant Gary Wayne Crump, II

Epitaph by Merrit Malloy

When I die
Give what’s left of me away
To children and old men that wait to die.

And if you need to cry,
Cry for your brother
Walking the street beside you.
And when you need me,
Put your arms
Around anyone
And give them
What you need to give to me.

I want to leave you something,
Something better
Than words or sounds.

Look for me
In the people I’ve known
Or loved, And if you cannot give me away,
At least let me live on in your eyes
And not your mind.

You can love me most
By letting Hands touch hands,
By letting bodies touch bodies,
And by letting go of children
That need to be free.

Love doesn’t die,
People do. So, when all that’s left
of me Is love, give me away.

Matthew Makaveli
Friend

May 26, 2022