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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
a er 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 co ee
at the College Inn. Around : , 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 le 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 ame 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
e cold wind wouldn’t stop blowing
His face streaked with moonlight and blood
I tightened my grip and held on
e 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
eir 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 …
eir 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
e next morning, Matthew was found by a cyclist, a fellow student, who
at rst thought he was a scarecrow. A er several days in a coma and on life
support, Matthew Shepard died on Monday, October , at : a.m. At
the funeral, which took place on Friday, October , 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
e res of Hell burn hot and red
e only good fag is a fag that’s dead
A man and a woman, the Good Lord said
As sure as Eve took that rst bite
e res of Hell burn hot and red
kreuzige, kreuzige!
Beneath the Hunter’s Moon he bled
at must have been a pretty sight
e res 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?
e res 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
ames 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, ames 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 ame
Called to remember
Enter the ame
SEPTEMBER 10 – SEPTEMBER 16, 2018 | RAVINIA MAGAZINE
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