Liberty and Gladness
Chuck was that image of a man who skips
And kicks his heels together at a whim
Of joy. He had the soul of men whose lips
Were made for prayer and praise, whose mouth held brim
Full words of warmth, intelligence and thought.
We think of visions, trees and long black hair
In curls, of images in strokes he brought
To canvas—and his smile that was the snare
Of love, his laughter as the catch of love,
His dreaminess akin to holy trance,
His quick mind’s motions, nimbleness above
Sad dogmas—happiest ideas in dance.
He stepped beyond religion’s word restraints.
To music’s movements he made steps with saints.