#20 / Request

I used to want a monument

Now, not so much

Some edifice with my name affixed

Some stone upon the grass

Some marker in my memory

Something to say …

(Kilroy was here)

Now, my beloved children

I have a different thought

Scatter my ashes when I am gone

(Ashes to ashes; dust to dust)

1.

Go somewhere North of Davenport

Somewhere with organic strawberries

And a sight of the sea

(No oil rigs to be seen!)

Leave some memory of me there

2.

On Lighthouse Field

There, too

The last remaining open space

Along the coast

Within the City

To remind us how it used to be

I hope that Field will still be there

Open and undeveloped

For all the people of this state

As the people of our city wanted

3.

In the redwoods

On Wildwood

In loving memory

Of my Mom and Dad

4.

On the open fields above New Brighton Beach

Not too many people know what role I played

5.

On one of the fertile farm fields

Of the Pajaro Valley

I am hoping there will still be water

For the crops they grow

If there are a few scant ashes left, here’s another short trip for you to take

I wouldn’t object to see the last of my ashes released across two rivers

The Pajaro and the Salinas

In Monterey County

On Marks Ranch

There, there are no subdivisions carved into the hills

As was proposed

And there is quite a nice view from the top

I used to want a monument

But now I have a different thought

The Human Empire is so proud of what it has built and done

And there is much to be proud of, no doubt of that

But we should be proud, as well

Of what we leave untouched

Where the World of Nature

That gives us life … 

Abides