I was thinking about Stephen
How he lived and how he died
And I came to the conclusion
That he gave life a good ride

It’s sad the trip was shortened
There was much more he could do
Working with God’s creatures
And helping them renew

His focus was not all mankind
He couldn’t cure the Earth’s ill
He sought out hapless animals
And fixes would reveal

And then he spoke with them
And listened to their songs
He came to know them
And all their rights and wrongs

His favorite was Keiko
The great mighty whale
They shared each others’ secrets
As each told his tale

And when it was time
for Keiko to join a pack
He would not leave the harbor
But kept coming back

Both Stephen and Keiko
Return to the eternal sea
And close the circle
That always will be

Throw a pebble in the water
Many ripples it makes
They stretch across the ocean
And reach bordering states

Let the ripples send a message
That Stephen is gone
So all of the oceans’ creatures
Can sing his life song


- Rachel’s Gramps