Brian Brett’s final farewell
Brian Brett died this week.
Some of us knew him as a local celebrity. He was a writer and poet, a journalist, columnist and had articles and essays published in numerous newspapers and magazines.
He was involved in community works, gave readings, helped with poetry in schools, facilitated writing workshops and wrote voraciously. And, he’d published several books.
May he rest in peace.
Brian Brett’s final and special contribution to our local (and wonderful) newspaper, The Tyee, was published this week, with an editorial note announcing his sad death.
The short essay in The Tyee — is Brett’s ode to his own end of life: If Doctors Said This Was Your Last Spring, What Would You Do? My answer has been to roam the night with pruning shears.
Brett begins with this:
I have returned from another round of thievery. My bedroom is lush with loot, vases of flowers, some still fresh and exuding fragrance, others fading. I am the flower thief of Vancouver, and this is my confession. I plead necessity.
Throughout the piece, Brett uses this theme of himself as thief, stealing flowers from various places around the city to bring home.
He tells of his love for gardening and flowers. And carefully weaves in threads of love and loss, as like garlands and vines throughout this short biographical essay.
He knows he is dying. This will be is Brett’s last wave farewell.. and he finished it just in time. It is worth your time to read the entire piece in The Tyee. It is moving and heart-warming, and heartbreaking all at once.
And, if you’re curious, you can visit Brian Brett’s website which gives a nice biography, lists some of his works, and where some of his books are for sale.
Upon checking today, it seems dutiful friends have kept Brian Brett’s Wikipedia page up-to-date, too.
Love. ❤️
