Dark Sentiments 2015 – Day 11: Weighing Out the Tare
Posted By Randy on October 11, 2015
Alex Kiupe (Gary Carbone photo – click to enlarge)
While the genesis of this poem was born of my own morning ablutions on a hot Summer morning this August past, I offer it today in honour of someone who mattered to someone who matters to me. I received an email from my Esteemed Friend Gary Carbone only this morning, enlightening me to the passing of one of those mattering people – his first Kung Fu Teacher, Alex Kiupe. A native of Hawaii, Mr. Kiupe was half Hawaiian, half Chinese, and all dangerous, in keeping with the best definitions of that word.
So, to the memory of Alex Kiupe, and with our most sincere condolences to all bereaved by his departure, this Dark Sentiment is hereby dedicated.
“Tare” is the weight of an empty vessel. That should be all you need to know to understand the intent of its use here.
Weighing Out the Tare
By LFM
As day begins, the Warrior doth lay his weapons out,
Then, unaccoutred, stands he there, whilst cleansing soul of doubt.
His code, his tools, he promises, whilst weighing out the tare,
That when again they find repose, no stain will any bear.
At the age of 15 or so, he began to hone his craft by fighting with sailors who were on shore leave in Hawaii. Somehow ended up in New Jersey where I met him in the early 1980's, when he was teaching Jun Fan Kung Fu and Tai Chi. I didn't stay with him long, but he ignited a life long interest in training for me. Whenever I would run into him, he was always gracious with his time and teaching. Got to train with him again a few years ago, it was great fun to see how he had evolved his art.
He is not a well-known teacher, except by a few out here in NJ. He lived the martial arts, his great passion along with fishing. He'd be really pissed off by referring to him this way, but……Thank you, Master Alex Kiupe.
Yes.
Yes.-
I studiously avoided the M word in referring to him, even as his effect on you clearly put him in that category.
Randy L. Whynacht I had to wait until he was six feet under, or I'd have caught hell……..