Beech Tree News Network

When speaking about his friend of many years, T.E Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and his tragic death, Winston Churchill made this remark, “ I deem him one of the greatest beings of our time, we shall never see his like again.” Winston admired both the courage and knowledge of his friend and though some of his exploits could now be debated as to whether they were courageous, foolhardy or misguided, in the view of his friend, his passing left a void which could never be filled.

Actually the phrase “ will not see his like again,” like several of our common expressions, comes from Shakespeare. This particular one comes from the play – Hamlet- and the full quote goes like this, “He was a man, take him all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.” In context, prince Hamlet is speaking about his father, the King, right after his untimely death. “He was a man, take him all in all,” what does that mean anyway? He was a man, not a divine being, no matter what others had said about kings of the past. Take him all in all, simply means, taking the whole man into consideration. With all his faults, foibles and imperfections, he still was a man of noble stature and the world was not likely to see one of such character and esteem again.

I remember being somewhat perplexed and bored by Shakespeare when we studied him in a high school English class. With the benefit of hind sight I can now see that, that was somewhat of a shame. With the right mentor, one who has both a love for reaching the hearts and minds of others and has a passion for words and language; studying Shakespeare has the ability to entice with language and open you up to fully appreciate- words. Finding mentors that can bring context, richness and fullness to words, it is a worthwhile expedition and an awesome experience no one should deny themselves. Those that use words in dry, unimaginative, literal context, with no appreciation for the art of poetry, metaphor or abstract thought, still bore me to tears and sometimes frustrate me to downright ire.

There are those in my life whom I “will never see the likes again.” As I was pondering this notion I realized that I and my children are some of them. I will never again see the boy I was years ago, I will never again hold my children as babies and sometimes that realization brings on a sigh of regret but sometimes, a sense of astonishment.

NEVER AGAIN

There he is, the boy I was, just looking to fit in, looking to belong,

looking to excel in something, anything, baseball, or track, the smartest kid in class?

get the best grades or draw the best picture, write with the most emotion or flair?

Ah, I shall not see his like again!

I shall never again see the boy who trusted too easily

until his heart was broken by both rejection and betrayal.

who matured slower than everyone else, who believed he would be alone forever,

 it became one of his greatest fears;

until someone trusted him enough, to take his last name.

There she is, the little girl who calls me daddy,

trusting me with all her might, knowing no harm would befall her while in my care. I remember

the thumps to my head and spontaneous laughter, as I hold her when she accepts a pageant crown.

There he is, my little man, full of mischief, looking so much like his mom,

finding joy in a simple game of hide and seek.

rough and tumble yet softly cradling a hurt little pup.

There they are; one just as tall as I and the other only a hand-span shorter.

Driving now, when I'm too tired or patiently learning how, with a nervous dad.

Striking out on their own, accomplishing things I never did; becoming accomplished at things I never could master.

I see glimpses of the same twisted sense of humor, touches of the same type of sarcasm thrown in; Yet each on their own path now but looking back at me with those same blue eyes, I saw when they first opened them.

I think I see a glimpse of the boy I was, in each of them; both so grown now, so independent but perhaps one day other children, each pieces of them; will let me glimpse once again, their own childhood.