R.I.P. Jon Swift: A monument more lasting than brass

Exegi Monumentum Aere perennius
"I have made a monument more lasting than brass".
From the title page of Works (1735): Swift receiving the thanks of Ireland.

The brilliant blogger known as Jon Swift has died. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Jon was a gifted, profoundly funny wordsmith as well as a generous and encouraging friend to other writers. I want to honor Jon properly, but I'm struggling to find the right words. I want him to come back, you see, he has to come back because he's going to do the year-end roundup as he always does, and I can't find the right words because this doesn't exist for me, not really, not yet. That must be it.

Jon, I've been missing you for many months now, ever since the blog went quiet. I'm not ready to miss you forever.

UPDATE:  Here's a link to The Best of Jon Swift.  Fans from days of yore will love revisiting what is surely some of the finest, wittiest writing to ever infiltrate the blogosphere; newcomers, well, you've got a lot of catching up to do--many hours of laughter and reading pleasure lie ahead, lucky you!

And here is the real-life website of Al Weisel--writer, son, brother, and beloved partner.  He was the incomparable Jon Swift to most of us; to his loved ones, he was everything.

ANOTHER UPDATE:  Something tells me Jon/Al would like it very much if people remembered him with laughter as opposed to (or at least, in addition to) tears.  Accordingly, I'll send you over to this wonderful post:  Jonah Goldberg's Shining (Liberal Fascism with LOLcats).

Comments

[SEK]

That's awful, awful news. He's been missed, and he'll continue to be.

[Sir Charles]

Jesus, that's a sad story. He was a very funny, very talented guy.

I feel very sorry for his mother. That's an awful lot for any one person to handle.

[MR Bill]

"
But what he writ was all his own.
He never thought an honour done him
Because a duke was proud to own him;
Would rather slip aside and choose
To talk with wits in dirty shoes;
Despised the fools with stars and garters,
So often seen caressing Chartres.
He never courted men in station,
Nor persons held in admiration.
Of no man's greatness was afraid,
Because he sought for no man's aid.
Though trusted long in great affairs,
He gave himself no haughty airs.
Without regarding private ends,
Spent all his credit for his friends;
And only chose the wise and good;
No flatterers; no allies in blood;
But succoured virtue in distress,
And seldom failed of good success;
As numbers in their hearts must own,
Who, but for him, had been unknown.
With princes kept a due decorum,
But never stood in awe before 'em.
He followed David's lesson just:
In princes never put thy trust.
And would you make him truly sour,
Provoke him with a slave in power.
The Irish senate, if you named,
With what impatience he declaimed!
Fair LIBERTY was all his cry;
For her he stood prepared to die;
For her he boldly stood alone;
For her he oft exposed his own.."
-Johnathan Swift, "Lines on the death of Dr. Swift"

[MR Bill]

http://jonswift.blogspot.com/2005/12/best-of-jon-swift.html

And here is a link to "the Best of John Smith". Which is very good and very funny indeed.

I still miss Steve Gilliard. And where is Elton Beard?
The Mighty Reason Man? Hilzoy?

Ou sont les blogs d'antan?

[MR Bill]

http://www.livefastdieyoungbook.com/homepage.htm
Here is Al Weisel's reallife website: a talented freelancer, author of the definitive life of James Dean, a
Gay man. (via Skippy.)

[litbrit]

MR Bill, I really need a hug, and I'm guessing you're good at those, so I'm going to help myself...((( )))

Thank you for posting that beautiful Swift poem. How utterly perfect in every way. I'll update the post with that link, too.

XXX
D.

[MR Bill]

I'm just sad we won't have a chance to be looking at Amazon Book Reviews and chance to see one beginning with "I haven't actually read this book, but..."
And the deconstruction of 'Battlestar Galactica' is...better than the show.