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Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash. Leonard Cohen

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Sonnet For a Friend

photo source: Gordon Haslett
How do I say goodbye to you, my friend?
I wish on stars but see a waning moon
And though I want to be there til the end
I fear that I may pull away too soon

How to protect a heart from pain I know
There is no anodyne able to heal
The scars I'll wear within me when you go
And grief from sorrow's reach I'm loathe to feel

But who among us has the strength to dare
Consider Death may swing her scythe's blade too
Toward any of us, living unaware
Perhaps, my friend, I'll lead the way for you

And so I'll give you all I have to give
For whatever time that you have left to live.

submitted for Poetry Potluck, Void, Loneliness, and Sorrow, at Jingle Poetry

6 comments:

Brian Miller said...

loving for as long as we have them is a life well lived...loss is hard though when it darkens our door...

Crayotic Ramblings said...

This is so beautiful. I hope your friend knows how blessed they are.

Jingle said...

what a bittersweet goodbye,
u rock.
well done.

Anonymous said...

"anodyne" I really love this word I can't imagine why I haven't used it. This a touching, heart-felt poem. Truly beautiful. I know the pain of losing friends not death but abandonment.

JustRex said...

I think at this point in my life I would rather lead the way than have to say goodbye to any more friends. That is hard.

Pat Tillett said...

That is really good. Deep and thought provoking. I know none of us is getting out of here alive, but that fact doesn't make it any easier. The older we get (like me), the more we have to deal with it.