Mourning # 22
The monarchs come up from Mexico
and gather in the eucalyptus trees
in Pacific Grove, south of Monterey
except in the last year the orange and
black beauties are scarce, 400,000
fewer conclave as living leaves
flutter mate feast celebrate life as they
should. 2 million gone – we’re all butter-
flies here today then away we fly
yet when I see those nearly naked trees
I cry.
---- Brian R. Miller, 52, went blind at 20
and nonetheless traveled to 65 countries.
He spoke several languages: Spanish German
and Russian. He earned a Ph.D. in history and
had limitless knowledge on any subject. Brian
worked on disability rights for the U.S. Dept.
of Education. His mother said: “Nothing was
going to stop him…” After receiving condolences
from people all over the world, she said: “It’s
overwhelming and really gratifying to know how
many people he touched.”
When he died of COVID on April 30, 2020, Brian
Miller was planning to travel with his guide dog
to Ireland, Mongolia and Ukraine.
