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| Betty Hill—Rest in Peace |
Readers of this blog know that we lost my Uncle Bill last November. Now his dear wife Betty is gone as well. She suffered from Parkinsons, the progress of which accelerated in the months after Bill’s death. Her passing is sad for those of us who loved her gentle spirit, her generosity and good humor. Pondering the sheer unfairness of her condition sometime back, I remembered this strangely comforting poem by Goethe:
SONG OF THE TRAVELER AT EVENING
Over all the hills now,
Repose.
In all the trees now
Shows
Barely a breath. Birds are through
That sang in their wood to the west.
Only wait, traveler. Rest
Soon for you too.
(Trans. John Frederick Nims)
Joseph Hutchison, Colorado Poet Laureate 2014-2019, has published 20 collections of poems and edited or co-edited three poetry anthologies. He currently directs two master’s-level programs for University College at the University of Denver: Professional Creative Writing and Arts & Culture Management. Joe lives with his wife, Melody Madonna, in the mountains southwest of Denver, Colorado, the city where he was born. 
