When one belongs to an internet community like WetCanvas - one begins to see the other members with whom you interact on a daily basis as extended family - sharing the good times and the bad.  One such 'family' member was Kevin Slater who although confined to a wheelchair for 33 yrs and only able to move his head - still produced some wonderful paintings by using his mouth to manipulate the brushes.  Sadly Kevin passed away in July 2006 - his loss was greatly felt throughout the entire WetCanvas community so we did what we knew in his memory - we painted barns for him and some also wrote poetry.  This is a poem that I wrote in memory of Kevin - God Bless You Kevin!!

This Indiana That He Loved     

He would sit upon his porch

In his mouth he held a brush

Ready to paint the beautiful sights

Of this Indiana that he loved

A man so blessed with talent

Touched by God's own hand

Unless you really knew him

You couldn't understand

That within his broken body

Beat a heart of pure gold

A man whose faith had carried him

Through times that reached so low

His art gave him a way to thank

The good Lord up above

For the beauty of the colours

In this Indiana that he loved

A character indeed was he

He could spin a funny yarn

But most of all was happiest when

He would sit and paint a barn

But now he is gone from amongst us

And left us all in pain

Someone with so much of himself to give

Has left our earthly plane

But do not weep for Kevin

For he at last is free

There is no more pain to bear

Except for you and me

But look up in the sky tonight

See that star that shines so bright

That's Kevin smiling down at us

As he will do every night

So let us count our blessing friends

We were privileged you see

He chose to share part of his life

With us - yes you and me

He will not be forgotten

His memory will not die

He will be in our hearts forever

As all the years pass by

Pat Brogan copyright 2006