I Went to the Funeral of a Young Man

I went to the funeral of a young man,

And saw pictures of him smiling.

He looked fresh and very well.

I remembered things about him,

Episodes from days gone by.

I watched feelings draped over friends and family,

Now tugging at life’s certainties;

Unpicking threads and seams.

I heard songs and sounds once familiar,

Now, a strange soundtrack to sadness.

I went to the funeral of a young man,

Held hands with a litany of grievers,

And shook with an arrhythmic palsy of spasms.

Threatening to undo me, then and there.

I heard the eulogy in real time,

Perched on my third row pew.

I listened out for more adventures,

But that book was finally closed.

I went to the funeral of a young man,

Now, permanently indisposed.