There are days I still can feel
the breeze of youth gently stir my soul
days remembered of grace and lightness
when faith in truth sparked splendid dreams
those days of you
you and me
when all we touched was fresh and new
and the world was full of wonder
when we were certain we’d live forever
our strength made each day a great adventure
those carefree days
days we pledged one to the other
as we dreamed dreams of a magical life
full of promise and wonder
of golden tomorrows
that would flourish and rise
rise in spectral beauty
brightly gleaming
brilliant through sweet years
of accomplishment
of joy
but not now
now I’ve grown unyielding
rigidly braced
against the winds of time and fate
my soul rooted in life’s demands
demands and darkling demons
that find me searching
for life’s blessings
cursing its burdens
these brittle days
days bent by the yoke of worry
heavy with the weight of loss
haunted by the ghost of memory
the lonely days when I think of you
these days of emptiness
emptiness so great
that I know not
how this void can ever be filled
when those so rich in grace
have departed
departed too
such wit and wisdom
such honest kindness
so much pure love
has now been lost
lost forever
to the void
ones who understood the need for giving
in a careless world darkened by greed
tender hearts
truly unselfish
unselfish and all embracing
whose warmth was ever present
my aching heart questions how
how can this void be filled
when such brilliant light
has been extinguished
extinguished
but not forgotten
because I will not forget
I will remember you
all of you
and all those days
days of joy and love
that’s how I will
fill this void
with the seeds of friendship
you planted deep inside my heart
now filled with memories
memories that will nurture
that will make these seeds grow
make me gentler
and me — the world to make better
better for your having been
good-bye my friends
you all are in my heart
now as ever
ever will I tend these seeds
and think of you
for the love goes on and on
I will not forget
not ever
*
rob kistner © 2022
More loop poetry at: dVerse
