a poem for fred tillis

by royal hartigan and weihua zhang

royal hartigan was a student of fred tillis in the 1970's 

dr. tillis gave me my life back when i doubted everything after returning from two years in the peace corps philippines, seeing the third world devastation and hopelessness of most of the planet's peoples. he helped me believe in myself and was like a second father, opening me to the depth and spirituality of african american culture and music. my wife, weihua zhang was introduced to this great tradition via the jazz in july program he created.

he has changed the lives of thousands of people and will forever be in our hearts, our music, and our lives. all those whom i have taught over 35 years have received dr. tillis' influence.
​
here is a poem for fred –

HOPI PRAYER FROM OUR ANCESTORS, FOR OUR ANCESTORS
words from the hopi people of southwest native america and royal hartigan
for my teacher, friend, and inspiration, dr. frederick tillis
­________________________________________________________________

do not stand at my grave and weep, i am not there i do not sleep

i am a thousand iowa winter winds that blow, i am the diamond glints on snow

i am the summer’s sun on texas’ ripened grain, i am the gentle autumn’s rain

i am massachusetts harvest leaves of red and orange and gold, i am the life force of all beings, great and small, fleeting and eternal, young and old

i am new england mountain meadows of brown and tan and green, i am the inner secret shadow spirits of all things, visible and unseen

i am the dawning dew in may’s blooming mist, i am the heartbeat of your dreams kissed

i am the sounds of music, dance, and song, from up on high, i am the clouds in an endless sky

when you awaken in the morning’s quiet hush, i am the swift uplifting rush of birds in circled flight

i am the soft stars that shine on a moonlit night

so do not stand at my grave and cry, i am not there, i did not die
__________________________________________________________

and as before, fred, wherever you go we are with you near or far, and wherever we walk on the paths of this long cold night of life without you, you are right here with us, inside our hearts

a mirror for each other’s souls through time and space we are one, and someday yet again we will be whole as we awaken together in the evening’s midnight sun

as we awaken together in the evening’s midnight sun

and we’ll dance with spirits deep, sing the whole way through,

we’ll laugh at life’s old ills, and to each other be true, as we awaken together in the evening’s midnight sun

in the evening’s midnight sun

we are one
                                     we are one
                                                                                  we are one 
all
                                        one                                          all
                 one                                                                                          all
                                                         beyond

with you in our hearts, fred,

                                                forever
 ________________________________
in spirit and music,
royal hartigan and weihua zhang
north dartmouth, mass

fred tillis with royal hartigan and weihua zhang, and pam and ester bedford in 2019