Remembering Dana

Dana Meredith Haswell, Jr.

(9-17-53 to 8-10-06)

***

There's so many things I could write about my brother. But right now I'm not going to. What I am going to post here is a poem that I wrote for my husband, Jeff, who was a very good friend of Dana's for 9 yrs before I met him. I wrote it for him to try and cheer him up after his sister, Shirley, died. It was taken from true memories that I had from my childhood with my little brother (and only sibling) from the big log swing that my dad built for us with a swing, a trapeze and a "chinning bar". There were giant 10-12' tall sunflowers growing on the other side of the chainlink fence in dad's garden ... little did I realize then what a paradise we lived in. Many who have read this or heard me recite it have asked, "What is a Parrish sky?" so I'll just say now, it's from the Maxfield Parrish paintings that I love ... you know, with the beautiful young girls swinging and sitting naked on top of a hill or rock looking out at the blue sky and a star twinkling. He always could capture that pink and blue awesomeness with the big white fluffy clouds. So that's what it means. I turned this into a children's song and have sang it to a few babies and young kids, and even some "old kids" like me. I can't sing it here for you but just make up your own melody and that'll be fine by me. Though we had quite a tumultuous relationship, I miss my brother, missing knowing that he is at the other end of his cell phone if I needed to talk (which was very rare) or getting his messages telling me off after he drank too much around 1-2 am. I miss what we should've/could've had. I wish I did have my childhood to live over...I would've been kinder and the sibling rivalry would have been healthier...but maybe we are closer now than we've ever been............so, here's to you, Dana. I love you.

WINGS OF A DRAGONFLY

When I'm unhappy and smiles won't come

And tears too often flow

I sing a little song to cheer me up

That I think you should know:

"Sailing along like a gull

through a pink and blue Parrish sky

give me a swing to fly up high

and parachute out - cartwheel away

just like in years gone by

Winging my blues away

On the back of a dragonfly."

***

Don't be unhappy too often 'cause

It's not how it oughta be

Keep smiling and showing how much you love

To be cheerful and free

But if some tears are to flow

You'll know the song that I know:

"Sailing away like a gull

through a pink and blue Parrish sky

give me a swing to fly up high

and parachute out - cartwheel away

just like in years gone by

winging my blues away

on the back of a dragonfly...

We'll be winging our blues away

On the newborn, glistening, gossamer wings

On the back of a dragonfly."

-klh 4/13/99