Losing John

1.

So often in the past
the grace of a good bye
was never offered –
hearts washed by deep regret
smarting from the blow,
vowing that the next time
the words would be said
while with the living

Sadly now I have the chance
to be sure, before you leave,
that you know the depth
of what you’ve meant, how
you’ve marked my heart.
But how do I find the words
when I cannot accept
a world
that moves along without you?

II.

Surely there were weeks,
perhaps months?
You would fight and give me time
I would fight
to find a courage that would match your own
and face myself the loss of hope, the birth of resignation
But ah!
One week – one small set of days –
“I love you” whispered in an ear
already searching for the song of Heaven,
one more good soul, sweet soul
softly slipped
home.

III.

If no words at parting, what?
How to honor
that which meant the most?
The same as for the others
who were gone too soon.
Carry proud a flag of these best things:
hope resilient
goodness wide
laughter free
love remarkable and strong
a standard for the world to see
you
in me.