Kathleen E. Fisher wrote this wonderful poem shortly after Percy Corbett died in 1983. She had spent time with Percy conducting research about his contribution to the law and international relations not long before his death.
The poem appeared in the magazine of the McGill Law Faculty, “Quid Novi” in November 1983. It was updated by the author and printed again in 1999 as part of an anniversary celebration edition called “Social Snapshots of McGill”. Kathy Fisher has since become an award winning Canadian poet and performer. This was her first published poem. Thank you Kathy. You are a dear friend, indeed.
After First Meeting Percy Corbett
Is it we who are women who are moved?
When an old man
dresses in a tie and an old cashmere sweater
with holes in the elbows to tell me about
his life
an illustrious life
a life so full we don’t know where to begin
He is excited.
I am overwhelmed.
His greatness is brushed aside.
I am to lead
He so anxious to help.
Is it we who are women who are moved?
When an old friend finds a link to his mentor
older still
and sparks light up in his eyes at the recollection
at the memories
the inspiration, aspirations, dreams
lived out
or
never to be realised.
It is touching
to be stirred
by a great man on the wane
striving to the last
giving until the end
all that he can.
He grateful to me
for being interested
Me unable to accept this modesty
as I am in awe of the image
Yet slain by the humility
and graciousness of a kind soul.
This is something I can’t quite put my finger on.
It is so powerful.
I have seen young men die before they ever bloomed
I saw the tragedy.
I am seeing old men who have bloomed, who have
lived, who have realised so much,
and more.
Yet everyone asks
Is he senile?
Can he remember?
And doubts my assessment of a, true, imperfect memory
but vivid, complete and the names forgotten
take only minutes to fill in after a brief search
through an address book or a pile of letters.
This old man is so vital, so alive, so caring, so feeling
that it moves me
to tears
and I ache
for
from
something
I can’t quite
put my finger on.
Corbett Family - view from Australia 
That is a really moving poem. It captures something intangible about the emotions on meeting someone old who’s impactful life is winding down but is still full of enthusiasm for the things that engaged him. I just wrote a piece for the memorial service for Ron Dore who was a giant in the field of Japanese Studies but was extremely kind to me when I was just starting out. I felt some of the same things. Thank you Kathy.
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