“All things must pass” — George Harrison
Original DDE™ art: “When” by: rob kistner © 1/10/26
—-<§>—-
visit your memories frequently
or you will lose their friendship
and they took a lifetime to gather
<~>
I didn’t grasp
the impact of their going
the “never again” of it all
failed to mark it on a calendar
I really hadn’t known to
no bell rings
no curtain falls
no clarion calls—
it just happens
gradually
a quiet crossing
until— already out of sight
some I didn’t even see leaving
until they were gone
vanished — as into the night
I’m doing the thing I love
or the thing I must do
…for passion
…for health
…for safety
the way I always have
but now—
quiet grieving
muscle memory carrying me
like an old song
one I still know by heart
nothing feels different —
and that is the trick of it
the cold surprise
the cruelty
at first you don’t know
you don’t realize
joy— never announces its exit
strength— never begs apology
intuition— offers no farewell
clarity— bids no adieu
they just slink away
something that ignited my joy
or I shared with loved ones
family or friend
or that made my life work
gone — no goodbye
never again
I’ll reach for it
and find only air—
my hand closing on absence
not there—
but where
the tool
that once lived there
not gone dramatically —
it rather — departed unnoticed
frustratingly
simply — evaded my touch
escaped my use
now — just echoes
like a friend — moved away
leaving no forwarding address
just — gone
age keeps its receipts
health makes withdrawals
but I never approved
even small losses sting —
tying a shoestring
standing too long
why’d you crossed that room
now what was that perfect word
that wonderful song—
it’s gone
damn… I remember your face
think I recognize this place—
it’s all so absurd
each one
a quiet goodbye—
giving no real notice
I wish I had known
I would have tried they stay longer
let the moment linger
pressed it into memory
like a flower
but life never warns us
when we touch something sacred
for the final time
so…
I honor then now
honor them all
large and small
…that unmarked goodbye
…that ordinary miracle
…that friendly smile
…those last bright flames
before the night
closed in—
that unknown final time
softly…
stealthily…
without warning
without rhyme
<~>
rob kistner © 1/10/26