There’s something satisfying about coming across a poem that was written this same day, 43 years ago, by my father. According to the Google, March 23, 1975 was a Sunday and Gerald Ford was president. I was 10 years old and don’t think I devoted a single thought, good or bad, to President Ford.

I confess that my Latin is lacking, so I also consulted Google for translation assistance. “Libera me, Domine” means “Deliver me, o Lord” and is a responsory sung at Roman Catholic (presumably Latin) Mass of the Dead.

On this cheery note: