Omega Mu Voice: Charles E. Chapman, 1982

Omega Mu Voice
Charles E. Chapman,
1982

The Tao of Fly-Fishing

Winslow Homer would
Have chosen
Popeye 
​
To be his model
For his Adirondack
Paintings

Because Popeye's
Rustic, flesh-
Clinging to 

Bone passion
To cast
Wide and drop

Deep into
The watery
Skin of any

Lake, stream,
River, or
Pond, as

Well as the
Uniting flesh
And bone of

Our Omega Mu
Brotherhood.
Because

Popeye 
Believes that
To live

Is to live fully
In the present,
In the moment,

Each day and
Always,
With fearless

Joy, day
And night,
Suturing

Joyous whimsy
Into the heart
Of our brotherhood

That never
Slackens
Because he is

A
Seeker of all
Joyous paths,

Such as sitting,
Monastically quiet,
Calm and

Composed,
In his Fly-
Tying

Scriptorium room
That he shared 
With Shab and

Phil, consulting
Dave Whitlock
In how to

Properly tie a
Popham Fly,
Salmon Fly, or 

Stonefly, with
Sunlight quietly
Playing upon the

Rhythmic, circular
Motions of his
Hands of thread

And feather in 
Measureless joy, his 
Autumn sun-

Streaked face 
Etched with
Evident joy and
​
Ease and
Wonder and
Imagination in

Thinking about
Thrusting deep 
Into the 

Architectural
World of nature
Again, his

Well-loved
Pilgrimage. to
Follow a winding

Well-worn trail
Through thicket,
Bramble and thorn,

Lush undergrowth,
Shadow, scrub, 
Meadow, marsh,

Mossy stones to
Trout streams and
Rivers.

With many pauses
To consider wind
Light, current,

And depth,
Enjoying the
Redemptive 

Beauty of
It all, each 
And every

Natural variable 
Causing a broadening
Smile on his

Face in
Analyzing each
Subtle variable,

And, then, 
Thoughtfully,
With perfect

Timing, casting 
His line, with 
His new

Knitted fly,
With singular
Style and

Solemn expectation,
Bowing to the
Grace  - the

Grace of natural law:
Glad simply to be
By the water, 

Still, silent,
With his
Beautiful heart

Open, always,
To the unitary
Intimacy of

Nature, as Popeye,
Exhaling, tugged,
Turned, and 

Tightened, in
Consecrating good
Faith, the

Final knot on
The new fly 
And sighed

Deeply, at peace,
Satisfied, content,
And softly

Closed his Dave Whitlock 
Fly-Fishing book, 
And glanced

Outside at the
Fall foliage,
Smiling at

The thought of
How wonderfully
Cold the

RAM was going
To be tonight,
Just as the

Last rush of
Omega Mu Brothers 
Entered the Castle for

Friday dinner, 
Which caused a 
Savoring smile at 

The thought of
J.T.’s hot bread,
Spaghetti and meatballs.

And that, perhaps,
Is the interesting,
Beautiful direction 

That love can take
In the natural
Human economy 

Of  ones life, 
Whether it be 
Popeye’s grace-

Filled love of 
Fly-fishing,
And the 

Knitted,
Strength of his
Staunch, 

Untiring,
Unconditional 
Love for his

Omega Mu 
Brotherhood, 
Forever

Guided by 
The two 
Knotting 

Virtues of
Our brotherhood
Through his

Entire life:
Persistence and 
Determination,

A seamless
Liturgy,
Threaded in

Popeye's
Generous, large-
Spirited heart

In living
Life
Steadfastly, 

Devotedly,
With resolute 
Beautiful 

​Affection,
Forged in
The deep

Current of
His inexpressible
Love for

His Wife,
His Omega
Mu Brothers,

His students,
Creating
A beautiful,

Deep current of
Cherished
Memories and

Musings, 
Joyful and
Playful,

That will
Never be
Forgotten

For the
Enduring
Heart and

Soul gift of
Who Popeye
Was for so many

Because
"Perfect  knots
Bind without

Rope and
So cannot
Be

Loosened."

"Perfect knots bind without rope and so
cannot be loosened."

A beautiful life lived with affection.

​“What if the space be long and wide,
That parts us from our brother’s side
A soul-joined chain unites our band,
And memory links us hand in hand.”
(Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)

Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82
Perge