Dear Steve, 

The hands of life unfold
to share the province of their pleasure,
Of all the gifts I have to hold,
friendship is my favorite treasure.
When I’m afraid to force ahead,
or fear a glance behind,
I can look beside me, to find a friend of mine.
The hand of life now folds around you,
to seize you from this realm.
To rest you in angelic hue,
where joy shall overwhelm.
I may have lost your life,
ne’er shall I lose our friendship.
I may have lost your company,
ne’er shall I lose our kinship.
Although we’ll never speak again,
or share a shake of hands,
you will always be my friend,
And brother to the end. 

…..Jason E. Hawk
Written with sincere sorrow and great regard for Steven J. Bengfort