ON THE DEATH OF A MOTHER OF MY FRIEND

I MOURN YOU

THOUGH I NEVER KNEW YOU

I NEVER SAT AT YOUR TABLE

LAUGHED AT YOUR JOKES

OR SHARED YOUR VIEWS

YET I MOURN YOU STILL

FOR YOUR DEATH IS A LOSS TO ONE I LOVE

AND I AM DIMINISHED BY IT

AND SO I MOURN YOU

BUT MORE

FOR YOU SHAPED AND BROUGHT INTO BEING

MY FRIEND

SOMEWHERE IN YOU THEN WAS A GIFT OF BEAUTY

AND THAT MUCH BEAUTY IS NOW GONE

AND I MOURN YOU

NOW YOU SLEEP OUT IN THE RAIN

ALL YOUR ELEMENTS GOING BACK TO GOD

NOW THE SENSE OF LOSS GIVES MY FRIEND PAIN

BUT IN THE SPRING

WHEN CROCUS BUDS PEEK THROUGH THE SNOW

COME BACK

COME BACK

WITH MEMORIES WARM

ALL HARSH THOUGHTS FORGOTTEN

COME BACK WITH MEMORIES OF LAUGHTER

AND MAKE MY HEART-FRIEND

SMILE

FRANK A VOLLMER