Richard Beban – Paris May 31st

Friday, May 31st

It is 8:45 a.m. in Long Beach, California. “June gloom” has gotten off to an early start this year; the Memorial Day weekend in L.A. County included rain. In the quiet of the neighborhood’s morning, I find myself thinking of the poet Richard Beban, for whom a memorial service was held in Paris today by his spouse and fellow poet, Kaaren Kitchell. At this point, she is gathering with all who loved Richard to finish the day of mourning with a special ceremony. I have cut and pasted below the information that I have found on it, should anyone want to join in spirit with this memorial procession.

Richard’s Memorial Celebration at Père Lachaise
#richardbeban #memorial #ceremony # #tributetorichard #thankyoukareen #soulconnection
“C’est le temps que tu as perdu pour ta rose qui fait ta rose si importante” Antoine de St Exupéry
Richard’s Memorial Celebration at Père Lachaise
#richardbeban #memorial #ceremony # #tributetorichard #thankyoukareen #soulconnection

I am taking the liberty to quote Kaaren’s account of a small, but telling encounter in the aftermath of Richard’s death. It seems appropriate that the “light” of a poet being quoted should have been the “rendezvous” that has strengthened her in the ordeal of grief.

Our thoughts radiate to Paris, and to Kaaren and her dearest companion, now enfolded in the tenderness of memory.

“The light on Richard’s side of the bed went out. It wasn’t the bulb, which I replaced. It was the lamp itself. I took it to an electrical appliances store on Blvd Henri IV. The electrician who fixed it in ten minutes quoted Paul Eluard to me. “Dans la vie, il n’y a pas de hasard, rien que des rendezvous.” This city of beauty and light that Richard loved so deeply enfolds me in its arms. He goes with me everywhere I go now.” — Kaaren Kitchell

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