The ILA (Graduate Institute of the Liberal Arts at Emory University) has offered to honor Bob Detweiler by permanently naming one of their seminar rooms after him. Donations can be sent to: Emory University In memory of Dr. Robert Detweiler Attn: Jeffrey Prince Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations for Emory College Arts & Sciences Development 825 Houston Mill Road, Ste. 102 jprince @ emory.edu 404-727-4494 (Office) 404-217-2778 (Cell) 404-727-1805 (Fax) The Emory Report will also have an article on Bob in the coming week’s issue. I’ll be delivering the poem below at the memorial service in the morning. When I’ve had more time to process all of this a little more I hope to write another, but I hope that this will serve the purposes of the occasion. It lacks a title. Does it need one? Suggestions welcome. In Memory of Bob Detweiler We gathered here today as one Make an unlikely flock, So here is just a simple rhyme To honor our good doc. A teacher he, who greeted us, And beckoned from the door, And for each question that was asked Presented us four more. Some Jupiter in him - and Pan - A touch of Socrates, St. Nikolas for splintered ones To put each mind at ease. Grandfather to my Adelheid, The alpine horn he blew. (He had some running joke - I think - With every friend he knew). Imagination disciplined Is what he taught us best - To wrestle with the text unique To BE THERE was the rest - And maybe most in stories full Of shaming, war and pain, The book shows more than it can know - Complexity constrained. To find - in flesh becoming word - A testimony true, Behind the fiction, structures live Transforming me and you. When each of us recalls that sense at other vineyards found, We fire - like the synapse jumps - New paths and meanings ground. Extraordinary gift it is When such a man as this Combines the voices that he knows As nexus of the mix. For bare survival’s not enough There should be celebration, And dignity - respect and grace - An artful life - affection. Good company he was to us To read - religiously, Where it was safe to bare our souls - Write better ways to be. No heart have I for coiled abyss - No crafted emptiness Wrapped up in ghostly metaphors - And echoes of the rest. If like the birds now - each to each - We cry so differently, We still take comfort - back and forth - through our sweet liturgies. Your work is done (… say “Hi” to Donne). I miss your twinkly eye. I thank you for the chance to talk … Good-bye - dear friend, good-bye. '); //-- Related Posts: Thu September 4, 2008 -- Bob Detweiler’s Obituary in the AJC (0) Tue September 2, 2008 -- Memorial for Robert Detweiler (0) Mon September 1, 2008 -- Robert Detweiler - Rest in Peace (2) Sat August 23, 2008 -- A Tennyson Poem (0) Sat November 17, 2007 -- Robert Detweiler Heilbrun Fellow (1) Sat March 24, 2007 -- 1978 Poem (3) Sun November 12, 2006 -- Congrats to Rosei (1) Less