Spontaneous Doha to Paul Halpern

So wild is my memory,
Immovable, inspiring.
What a truly fine curmudgeon,
And so subversive
What did he just say?
He knew every Nova Scotian yarn,
Cryptic, inscrutable surprise of a mind,
Handle, "Raven."
Most compassionate soldier of fortune,
"Keep 'em Alive."
A gentleman with an edge,
A playful grouch,
Gotcha!
Always formal and proper somehow,
Your loss, our loss, everybody's gain.
Iconic and comic,
A friendly brigand, smoking by the kitchen.
Rinpoche named him "Hand."
Hand always goes to heart.
Fearlessly proclaiming protector qualities
…sometimes to himself,
He was and is who we are,
The fangs of the Makkyi Rabjam's smile
Ba-tha-ba-ba-tha-ba-ba-tha-ba-ba-tha tha that's all folks!!

This arose at the Sukhavati of remembrance and celebration of this raven-like protecto's life, by his vajra brothers and sisters, at Marpa House in Boulder, 12 December, 2008. This is dedicated to the Sakyong lineage that Paul tirelessly served and is offered to Faye Halpern Rupon, Alexander Halpern, and the Halpern family.