I never dreamed you'd leave in summer
Yes, this is another Michael Jackson post. I know a lot of people are sick of stuff about him, which is why this is below a cut.
It's 8:00 PM in London, making it the exact moment the MJ London concerts were supposed to start. It seemed like a good time for a tribute post. I wanted to post this poem that Maya Angelou wrote for Michael that was read at his memorial. It's short, sweet, and to the point, and it makes me tear up every time I read it.
"We Had Him" by Maya Angelou
Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing, now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips like a puff of summer wind.
Without notice, our dear love can escape our doting embrace. Sing our songs among the stars and walk our dances across the face of the moon.
In the instant that Michael is gone, we know nothing. No clocks can tell time. No oceans can rush our tides with the abrupt absence of our treasure.
Though we are many, each of us is achingly alone, piercingly alone.
Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us and we did have him.
He came to us from the creator, trailing creativity in abundance.
Despite the anguish, his life was sheathed in mother love, family love, and survived and did more than that.
He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style. We had him whether we know who he was or did not know, he was ours and we were his.
We had him, beautiful, delighting our eyes.
His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us.
And we laughed and stomped our feet for him.
We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing. He gave us all he had been given.
Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eiffel Tower, in Ghana's Black Star Square.
In Johannesburg and Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham, England
We are missing Michael.
But we do know we had him, and we are the world.
And lyrics from "You Were There" - a song he wrote for Sammy Davis, Jr. I think the lyrics also fit Michael quite well.
You were there before we came
You took the hurt, you took the shame
They built the walls to block your way
You beat them down, you won the day
It wasn't right, it wasn't fair
You taught them all, you made them care
Yes, you were there and thanks to you
There's now a door we all walk through
And you are here for all to see
To be the best that you can be
Yes, I am here 'cause you were there
If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with. -- Michael Jackson
It's 8:00 PM in London, making it the exact moment the MJ London concerts were supposed to start. It seemed like a good time for a tribute post. I wanted to post this poem that Maya Angelou wrote for Michael that was read at his memorial. It's short, sweet, and to the point, and it makes me tear up every time I read it.
"We Had Him" by Maya Angelou
Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing, now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips like a puff of summer wind.
Without notice, our dear love can escape our doting embrace. Sing our songs among the stars and walk our dances across the face of the moon.
In the instant that Michael is gone, we know nothing. No clocks can tell time. No oceans can rush our tides with the abrupt absence of our treasure.
Though we are many, each of us is achingly alone, piercingly alone.
Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us and we did have him.
He came to us from the creator, trailing creativity in abundance.
Despite the anguish, his life was sheathed in mother love, family love, and survived and did more than that.
He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style. We had him whether we know who he was or did not know, he was ours and we were his.
We had him, beautiful, delighting our eyes.
His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us.
And we laughed and stomped our feet for him.
We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing. He gave us all he had been given.
Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eiffel Tower, in Ghana's Black Star Square.
In Johannesburg and Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham, England
We are missing Michael.
But we do know we had him, and we are the world.
And lyrics from "You Were There" - a song he wrote for Sammy Davis, Jr. I think the lyrics also fit Michael quite well.
You were there before we came
You took the hurt, you took the shame
They built the walls to block your way
You beat them down, you won the day
It wasn't right, it wasn't fair
You taught them all, you made them care
Yes, you were there and thanks to you
There's now a door we all walk through
And you are here for all to see
To be the best that you can be
Yes, I am here 'cause you were there
If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with. -- Michael Jackson