The Last Time I Saw Richard (Poetry)

The last time I saw Richard
was one afternoon in town
I was browsing in a book shop
he was looking tired and down

There were worry lines upon his face
I hadn’t seen before
there was something sad about him
and dark stubble round his jaw

‘You’re looking well,’ he told me
but I couldn’t say the same
we chatted a few minutes
then the awkward moment came

A testing silence stretched between
us — broken with a sigh
one question dying on my lips
I echoed his ‘Goodbye’

Since when I’ve not seen hide nor hair
he might have moved away
yet I am haunted by one thought —
he looked like Death that day