In Memory of Sapphire Blue

[pamela]

Sapphire Blue's daughter, Indigo, posted a thread earlier this evening in her mother's name. I know that many Duers have been wondering where Sapphire Blue has been lately and we, very sadly, learned in that thread that she passed away last year, right after Thanksgiving. Here is the thread if you want to read it and leave a message for Indigo. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5908505

I know there are many, many DUers who loved Sapphire Blue and admired her tireless efforts on behalf of the poor. My heart goes out to all of you. She has been missed and will be missed for a long time.

I found an old thread in which Katinmn posted a poem for Sapphire Blue several years ago. I thought I'd repost that poem here. (I hope Kat won't mind. Here's the original thread. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=106&topic_id=27974 )

The weary warrior’s eyes glazed
contemplative or angry
I could not tell
with me no longer

Weary
she said
Simply weary
too much anger
so little change
a thousand wounds
a blog for every wrong
ten mittened fingers for a hundred weeping dikes
no answer blowing in some long forgotten wind

Cries for justice dissonant
rhythm less
language sans syntax
one vote one veto
Nations united for commerce
oil for food to nourish cannon fodder for the machine
marching us ever forward to our doom

Ten mittened fingers for a thousand weeping dikes
no answer blowing in some long forgotten wind

I wished to lift her up
carry her home
To say on eagle’s wings brought more remembering
of mercury
still more than all the world allows
And DDT
feathered first people dancing in the desert

A journey of a thousand miles
ends while its beginning
turn turn turning in the wind

Here and here and here she thrusts and parries
The Patriot Act
Iran Iraq
Katrina Katrina
Her winds lay bare the weakened levies
the heart of health care
poverty
equal rights
now decimal points
not points of light
Here a phantom
There a blog
Here a demi-god
saying the sanctity of heterosexual
is worth going to war for

St Joan and Mother Courage long forgot
This new created Lorna Doone fights on
Search through the countless headless windmills
necromancer politicians and their pals create
openly enticing us to lose our brotherhood to hate

Thrust and parry
thrust and parry
she can not stop to rest
Thrust and parry
Thrust and parry
Working for the brightness at its best
Ten mittened grasping caring fingers
carry on the fight

--Jeff McCallum


Rest in Peace, Sapphire Blue. You fought the good fight and you were deeply loved and respected here.