Though much written by way of obituary - including arguably (parts of) this belatedly posted (though scribbled immediately post-death) poem of sorts - must seem trite and/or otherwise contrived, I'll post it still...
*Here lies a man...
...who tried
Paratrooper? - airforce pilot:
-kidnapped - imprisoned -
tortured...
...for years
Finally freed:
a 'war hero'!
But McCain didn't stop there,
he continued...
on...and on...and on...
Eventually achieving political success.
Congressman - senator -
and for the state of Arizona, no less...
Finally, following in the esteemed footsteps
of his Arizonan senatorial predecessor,
the late, great Barry Goldwater...
...himself the Republican Presidential Nominee
in 2008...
Apparently he 'swore like a trooper'
(according to a tome upon the man
I espied awhile ago
among the 'best new books'
at my local public library)...
...but that doesn't necessarily
detract more than a couple of iota
from the essential quality of the man
Not a war hero?
-I'm sure Mr McCain
would've - indeed, has -
had the last laugh...
...on that particular score
...except that dying
of an inoperable brain tumour
is hardly a laughing matter...
An independent voice...
even against his own, beloved,
Republican Party...
...and especially
President Donald J Trump
A contrarian to the core...
to the bitter end...
of both his political career
and life (as it so transpired)
No man's debtor...
or mere people-pleaser
And a better person, perhaps,
than the man
who soundly defeated him
at the polls in 2008
No, not possessing
infallible judgment...
that's the papal prerogative
alone, isn't it?
-and that was evidenced,
nowhere more clearly,
than in that selfsame year...
...wherein he selected
Alaskan Governor,
Sarah Palin...
...as his presidential 'stand-in'...
a judgment, admittedly,
he himself lived to regret
So rest in peace...yes,
like Yours Truly,
he did get in the last word!
But One Above, Beyond,
Transcending
This Fragile
earthly Orb...
will soon enough
have the very last word...
...on each of our lives...
And all that really matters
then
will be that
we too were found faithful
to our calling
*Acknowledgment to Rod McKuen's memorable song 'There Goes A Man Who Tried' in his memorable record 'Alone'.
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