They were both friends from another star:
One from Krypton, one from Ork.
Both made it to Julliard.
What a pair!
One with dyed black hair,
One with an egg... whatever
That was.
Both of them in red:
One in cape and boots,
One in full body suit.
Both versatile actors typecast
Characters from fiction.
Popeye and Superman...
Cartoons who became real guys
Thanks to them.
Underneath, a serious side.
One was John Keating, teaching his
Students to seize the day.
The other, Jack Lewis, American
Diplomat, proposing a toast to
"Professional politicians."
They were both in a fairytale...
One posing as the squire who really was a prince;
The other, a feisty frog, waiting to be kissed.
Both for Shelley Duvall.
One a comedic genius, with antics
that went on and on.
One, six foot two, and full of boyish charm
(Which we always loved).
Both of them willing to fight for the cause,
Always.
For Chris, it was an irony: helmets, and safety
Playing sports.
For Robin, comic relief for those left homeless.
For each (ask anyone they knew), they were always
Willing to help.
Sadly, both Chrisopher and Robin
Had lives too short.
Chrisopher first:
Memorial Day weekend of '95...
No one knows why his horse just
Stopped, but it did...and Chris was thrown off.
He lived...
Longer with his injuries than most.
And Robin was his first sign of hope.
(So Chris said).
Clad in blue scrubs like the doctor
from "Nine Months,"
He came to his bedside!
Robin made Chris laugh!
But an in infection undetected took his life.
This was nine years later.
If anyone could walk again, it was Superman,
Right?
So the tears flowed when such hope was crushed.
Both were on the Actor's Studio.
Chris was behind a screen that raised up;
Paralysis preventing a walk on the stage.
And Robin?
Well...
There were pauses and fade-out's.
There wasn't time, I suppose!
Tangents of some sort were edited;
Songs, dances, raps...characters composed
In his head.
"Guest appearances" all impersonated...
Spontaneous.
So, a couple of days ago,
I tweeted: "Goodbye Mork."
I thought it was a hoax at first
But it was true!
An apparent suicide!
I emailed friends with the subject:
"Nannu, nannu.
How coould this have happened??
Popeye was dead, and Mrs. Doubtfire too,
And the quirky Russian doctor:
"It's a boy...unless I cut the wrong cord!"
A great light has burned out after it shone for so many,
That is all I know. Actually, two.
Two college buddies: Robin Wiliams and Christopher Reeve,
both gone too soon, as is clear from the sound bytes
All over the news.
Both men wanted to act, and they did, and the two
Friends also made a pact together:
Whichever of them made it big first, would care for
The other, and always protect.
So it was said...early 70's I think.
Long before "Mork and Mindy," or the
Man in the red cape; before "Dead Poet's Society,"
and "The Remains of the Day."
It was before "Somewhere in Time," or "The World According to Garp";
Before "Street Smart," or "Noises Off."
This was before "Comic Relief."
Two friends just looking out for each other.
"Robin was always one of dad's dearest friends," Reeve's family said.
And Robin said of Chris: "I miss you, and may flights of angels sing thee
To thy rest, sweet prince."
Who could tell if they are together now?
Only someone who's gone before.
But these friends shared so much!
More than acting. More than tragic deaths.
"unbreakable Bond" said the caption on the news.
Both gone from us now:
The man in the red cape went first; the comic
Genius followed.
Both heroes for those who needed a hand or
A laugh...even when they needed one themselves.
Thank you Christopher... Robin.
--CES Copyright 2014.
