I am very sad to hear of this, although I know Pip lived a full long life, and may we all be so blessed. I am glad to have known him.
Pip was a good friend who gave the benefit of the doubt. He respected my opinion even when I was difficult.
I'd like to share one of our earliest *chats* which consists mostly of poetry he had shared with everyone the night before and I missed it.
= = = = = = = =
From 2010
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[1:14] Pip Torok: I get my inspiriation from others bright ideas btw
[1:14] Bagheera Kristan: I feel so badly that I have not made it over
[1:15] Bagheera Kristan: Ha! I'm just making circles and squares here
[1:15] Pip Torok: do you want to see the poem i wd have recited last night?
[1:15] Bagheera Kristan: I would be honored
[1:15] Pip Torok: hang on then
[1:17] Pip Torok: FOR YOU . . .
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for you I will write poetry
which paints rainbows
in your heart.
for you I will smile and laugh.
I will ravish you in the darkness
I will celebrate with you by day.
We will walk hand in hand
My honesty leaves me naked on the grass
the dew pleasant
but unpleasantly cold
You are pleased with my responsiveness.
for you I will whisper
soft melodies of love songs
written only for you to hear.
for you I will wait in silence.
I will cleanse my mind and soul
I will wash you with the moonlight
we will swim without making waves.
--oOo--
[1:19] Pip Torok: heres one of my earliest ....
[1:21] Pip Torok: A Joy
I need to write in crimson flame
I need to write in tunes -
I need to write in hill and dale,
in swirling sea and moons.
This medium's too sterile!
This joy I need to share...
A love for all good folk I've met,
the beauty everywhere.
So tell me please, what should I do
to best express a Heaven?
Sing perhaps - or dance - or just
accept these things I'm given?
I sometimes feel that I'll light-up;
with happiness I'd glow -
and bit by bit grow brighter yet...
then suddenly I'll go
to some place where the stars do flame -
where I'd just be my soul;
where happiness and sadness fuse
to make a perfect whole.
[1:22] Bagheera Kristan: oh yes!
[1:22] Bagheera Kristan: This is wonderful - I'm trying to put my thoughts into words
[1:23] Bagheera Kristan: It is a VERY happy poem and makes me happy to read it - that sounds trite when I write it, but a lot of poetry gets muddled and maudlin - this is bright and fresh and reaches my emotional center
[1:23] Bagheera Kristan: I like it very much!
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[7:53] Pip Torok: (Saved Thu Apr 22 07:28:32 2010) Hi ... Good Morning .. I hope it finds you fine and well ... I like what you've done in LA ... and so does my cleaner ("What a lovely picture" she'd said, leaning over my monitor) ... Pip
[7:53] Pip Torok: (Saved Thu Apr 22 07:29:03 2010) CHANSON
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Jacques Prévert
(translated by Pip Torok)
Le malheur avait mis
les habits du mensonge
Ils étaient d'un beau rouge
couleur du sang du coeur
Mais son coeur à lui était gris
Penché sur la margelle
il me chantait l'amour
Sa voix grinçait comme la poulie
Et moi
dans mon costume de vérité
je me taisais et je riais
et je dansais
au fonds du puits
Et sur l'eau qui riait aussi
la lune brillait contre le malheur
la lune se moquait de lui.
--oOo--
Mister Misfortune had put on
his garment of falsehood
Such a fine scarlet, it was! ...
the colour of hearts-blood ...
But his real heart was colourless.
He leaned over the edge of the well
singing to me of love,
But his voice grated just like the pulley
[7:53] Pip Torok: (Saved Thu Apr 22 07:29:38 2010) And me ??
In my clothes of truth ??
Well, I was saying nothing --
just laughing and dancing as I was
At the bottom of my well
And over laughing waters,
the Moon shone out against our Mister Misfortune,
Scorned him, derided and ridiculed him! ...
--oOo--