For Old Friends, Newly Departed (Poetry)

It seems impossible — unlikely
in so many ways
that you have left — rolled up
the life-worn carpet of your days

and moved on out — vacated
earthly hearth and home
to go off somewhere travelling
down roads so far unknown

This stern departure is
the hardest thing to bear —
as sentiment imagines you
still dozing in your chair ...

And habit won’t let go — expects
to hear your voice once more
for what heart readily accepts
you’ve vanished through death’s door?

It seems impossible you’ve gone
we sit incredulously
with hope now sickness is all done
your youth’s restored — set free

So, we’ll keep the very best of you
in memory’s domain
until it is our turn to leave —
then we’ll catch up again