Carpe Diem

Generally, celebrity deaths don't hit me too hard. With the exception of Mr. Rogers, I'm not sure that I've even ever cried over one.

But today, that certainly changed.

My favorite movie is "The Dead Poets Society." It made loving books and English feel cool. Less of a nerd. Made poetry more acceptable. I mean, Walt Whitman, HEY. But what really made the movie was Mr. Keats--or, Robin Williams.

In the movie, he pushed his students to embrace literature--and furthermore, to embrace themselves. No adolescent is good at that. But Mr. Keats pushed his students to do so.

In Aladdin, we saw Robin as the kind-hearted Genie, tending to a poor boy in love with a princess. Here, he carefully guided Aladdin (in his own way), and goodness did he make us all laugh.

There are countless other examples of how Robin Williams affected myself and so many others, more than I could hit in this single post.

Today, this world lost a wonderful comedian, actor, and man. It is so sad to see him go, especially given the circumstances.

I'm not sure what there more there is to say on the matter...rest in peace, Robin. You will be sorely missed, Captain.

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,

The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,

The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,

While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;

                         But O heart! heart! heart!

                            O the bleeding drops of red,

                               Where on the deck my Captain lies,

                                  Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;

Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,

For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,

For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;

                         Here Captain! dear father!

                            The arm beneath your head!

                               It is some dream that on the deck,

                                 You’ve fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,

My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,

The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,

From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;

                         Exult O shores, and ring O bells!

                            But I with mournful tread,

                               Walk the deck my Captain lies,

                                  Fallen cold and dead.