The Death of a Friend.

It was a terrible phone call. Saying he'd just died.

There is a hole where he was
Not a hole in the ground
A superficial place
But a hole that hangs
Suspended in space
The space he contained
Wearing his face
You turn to speak
Then turn away
He was here
But yesterday
Before the phone call
Saying 'heart attack
Ambulance here
Taking him back'

He was loved
He was rare
Someone whome
We assumed
Would always be there

The television sings
The microwave pings
And suddenly
There is a hole at your side
Sitting with you
Insisting you listen
You turn, you see it
The hole where he was
The edges glaring
As deep as your loss

Reviews

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

So terribly sorry for your loss
It shows how close you were in your writing he’s never far away

[Bryan Sefton]

Thank you Julie.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I have many holes around me....such close friends, several who died way too young...
now at my age...I am starting to lose even more...it gets tougher and tougher...
a very moving write,
j.

[Bryan Sefton]

A friend I knew, who was around fifty years old and looked younger, was told he had little time left. It didn't seem to bother him. He arranged his wake and had a good time with all his freinds. He arranged his funeral and everyone attended. As his coffin was disappearing behind the curtain it reversed and came back. This it did for five or six times, then the music came on. It was The Clashes record , should I stay or should I go? What a man!

[John the Baptist]

Even in a time of advanced healthcare, none of us are more than an instant's length away from the great finality. The tone of this one shows the speaker's shock and incredulity at the passing of one who seemed to be a force for perpetuity. It is with good reason that Buddhist monks sometimes meditate in morgues. We tend to forget this trip is ever time sensitive.

[Bryan Sefton]

I have so many friends who have passed. especially on account Covid, luckily none that are related. Its bad enough when a close friend dies. I couldn't bear it if it was someone near and dear. I live it though when I see someone crying over a dear departed.

[Tate Morgan]

You know someone is unique when the home left behind cannot be filled by any other

[Bryan Sefton]

He was a life long diabetic. He knew he wouldn't reach old age

[Tate Morgan]

It’s an awful disease.

[Kim S.]

It is painful to lose anyone. I have lost a few friends, i know the feeling.
Sorry you are going through this.

[Bryan Sefton]

He was a very close freind, and deadly missed..

[Bryan Sefton]

That should read dearly.

[Kim S.]

I lost my sister and my dad and a couple close friends. I do know what you are going through

[Bryan Sefton]

That goes beyond thinking. I can't imagine what you went through. My heart goes out to you. So sorry.

[Kim S.]

Thanks, it has been a rough one, but i get through it day by day

[Relic]

I like the fact that sites like this give us the opportunity to express ourselves without being judged. This is a heartbreaking poem, Bryan. I have friends that I've lost in the past that leveled me. One friend came over to my house the night before he was killed at work and I was out. That still haunts me. Another died 5 minutes after I said goodnight to him. He was killed on his motorcycle. Losing a friend hurts bad.

Great poem.

[Bryan Sefton]

That sounds really tragic. I am so sorry.

[Robert Haigh]

It is a painful loss to us when we lose a friend. Unfortunately it is something we all have to endure at some time. A poignant write.

[Bryan Sefton]

Unfortunately, yes. Thank you for your comment