John M. Ford, 1957-2006

[eldritchhobbit]

R.I.P., science fiction and fantasy author John M. Ford.

Sonnet: Against Entropy

The worm drives helically through the wood
And does not not know the dust left in the bore
Once made the table integral and good;
And suddenly the crystal hits the floor.
Electrons find their paths in subtle ways,
A massless eddy in a trail of smoke;
The names of lovers, light of other days --
Perhaps you will not miss them. That's the joke.
The universe winds down. That's how it's made.
But memory is everything to lose;
Although some of the colors have to fade,
Do not believe you'll get the chance to choose.
Regret, by definition, comes too late;
Say what you mean. Bear witness. Iterate.

-John M. Ford

(Thanks to agentxpndble for the news.)