Farewell, my friend

AU REVOIR

So long, my friend

You had been here, always there

With infectious smile and laughing eye

And now you’re gone, forever

I weep conspicuous, copious tears

Some crocodilian, the rest for me

For the times I heard the unspoken

plea

For my understanding, empathy

Couched within your volubility

The unshed tear, entreaty in your voice

That spoke loudly of your vulnerability

Your insufficiency in reaching those in

your charge

I smiled with vacuous lips

And chafed at your eccentricity

Turned a stiffened back

Arms clasped stiffly at my side

Ascetic luminary I

Highbrowed in my compos mentis, nay

hubris

Discounted with supercilious condescension

Your mundane contribution, oblation

I should have learnt from you, my

fellow man

But stiff-necked I failed to see the wisdom

The bequest of the Great Master

Played out in your unpretentious life

Your generous philanthropy

But for now, for all the world to see

I wring my hands in shallow grief...

In good time

I’ll wash my hands and face

And climb atop my pedestal once more

Eva David-Swain

Sangre Grande