Ravinia 2019, Issue 7, Week 14

the sun warms me the wind soothes me still still still I wonder will I always be out here exposed and alone? will I ever know why I was put (here) on this earth? will somebody someday stumble upon me? will anyone remember me after I’m gone? Still, still, still … I wonder. Recitation II Tuesday night. Matthew attended a meeting of the University of Wyoming’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Association, then joined others for coffee at the College Inn. Around 10:30, he went to the Fireside Bar, where he later met Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. Near midnight, they drove him to a remote area, tied him to a buck and rail fence, beat him horribly and left him to die in the cold of night. The Fence (that night) Most noble evergreen with your roots in the sun: you shine in the cloudless sky of a sphere no earthly eminence can grasp, You blush like the dawn, you burn like a flame of the sun. ^ I held him all night long He was heavy as a broken heart Tears fell from his unblinking eyes He was dead weight yet he kept breathing He was heavy as a broken heart His own heart wouldn’t stop beating The cold wind wouldn’t stop blowing His face streaked with moonlight and blood I tightened my grip and held on The cold wind wouldn’t stop blowing We were out on the prairie alone I tightened my grip and held on I saw what was done to this child We were out on the prairie alone Their truck was the last thing he saw I saw what was done to this child I cradled him just like a mother Most noble evergreen, most noble evergreen, your roots in the sun … Their truck was the last thing he saw Tears fell from his unblinking eyes I cradled him just like a mother I held him all night long Most noble evergreen … Recitation III The next morning, Matthew was found by a cyclist, a fellow student, who at first thought he was a scarecrow. After several days in a coma and on life support, Matthew Shepard died on Monday, October 12, at 12:53 a.m. At the funeral, which took place on Friday, October 16, at St Mark’s Episcopal Church in Casper, Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church protested outside. A Protestor God Hates Fags, Matt in Hell —Signs held by anti-gay protestors at Matthew Shepard’s funeral and the trials of his murderers kreuzige, kreuzige! (translation: crucify, crucify) A boy who takes a boy to bed? Where I come from that’s not polite He asked for it, you got that right The fires of Hell burn hot and red The only good fag is a fag that’s dead A man and a woman, the Good Lord said As sure as Eve took that first bite The fires of Hell burn hot and red kreuzige, kreuzige! Beneath the Hunter’s Moon he bled That must have been a pretty sight The fires of Hell burn hot and red C’mon, kids, it’s time for bed Say your prayers, kiss Dad good night A boy who takes a boy to bed? The fires of Hell burn hot and red crucify, crucify … the light crucify the light … Keep It Away From Me (The Wound of Love) don’t wanna look on this never get near flames too raw for me grief too deep keep it away from me stay out of my heart stay out of my hope some son, somebody’s pain some child gone child never mine born to this trouble don’t wanna be born to this world world where sometimes yes world where mostly no the wound of love ^ smoke round my throat rain down my soul no heaven lies keep them gone keep them never grief too deep, flames too raw keep them away from me stay out of my heart stay out of my hope don’t try any old story on me no wing no song no cry no comfort ye no wound ever mine close up the gates of night the wound of love keep this all away from me the wound of love you take away the wounds of the world keep it away from me Recitation IV National media began to broadcast the story. As the news began to spread, many people across the country gathered together in candlelight vigils, moved to (silently) speak for life over death, love over hate, light over darkness. Fire of the Ancient Heart Cantor: “What have you done? Hark, thy brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.” ^ Choir: Called by this candle Led to the flame Called to remember Enter the flame RAVINIA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 3 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2019 108