Dai Vaughan’s poem about the distinguished sculptor and artist Robin Hume was written in Cambodia where he was located when he heard of his friend’s death earlier this year. Robin Hume’s many friends, ex-colleagues, and Glasgow Art School graduates will remember him with affection and admiration.

IN MEMORY OF A FRIEND

    Robin Hume 1943-2017

How is it that I am lying here

Beside this pool

Snoozing in the sunshine

Having just swum in the cool water

And you are no more

Or rather your body

Lies in the chill of the mortuary

While your spirit has flown

To where mysteries unfold

And the truth is known

Is there a justice in this

That I can’t fathom

You weren’t old

In today’s understanding

Nor were you ill

Or if you were

You didn’t seem so

Was it simply that you had done

All you could do

All you were ever meant to do

Your perceptive eyes

And skilful hands

Had fashioned from clay

All that was needed

For those who had known you to say

What a true artist you were

What a generous soul

What a fine man