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.
