My Fear Came True

A poem

There had been a gap of years
now you wore spectacles, flecks of gray
at your temples, but still you

You spoke of shadows in your mind
the need for light. We reminisced
so much to laugh about, a friend indeed

I scanned the local paper each time
“Man found dead” fearing the fear
until last night, tracking through

I found your obituary, yet saw it not
thinking it was for your daughter
then comprehending for you both

You had been a man found dead
but you’re no statistic, not to me
You were a good friend, father, brother, son

Farewell is late, yet I recall you easily
the tangled years fade away, we laughed
I will always see you laughing, free from shade

Published in The Lark