Kyle Hislip

In memory of my beloved stepson Eamon. 

Our family lost Eamon four years ago today and I miss him dearly.

I feel such a loss not to see him at our family gatherings, and to imagine what could have been. He was so talented, so kind and so loved by everyone who knew him. One of the ways he exuded kindness was to help the unhoused. Eamon would sit down with them, sharing food and drink while patiently listening, giving his loving attention to them. 

He had such a big heart.

This extract from the poet John O’Donohue’s “On the Death of the Beloved” touches the sentiments in my heart for Eamon:

“ . . . Though your days here were brief,
Your spirit was live, awake, complete.

We look towards each other no longer
From the old distance of our names;
Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath,
As close to us as we are to ourselves.

Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our soul’s gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.

Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.

When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.

May you continue to inspire us:

To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again. “