When fates conspire to take a well-loved friend,
It’s precious when time lets one say goodbye,
And reminisce with wistful, thankful sigh
While yet the darkening mists of death descend.

But when stark death snatches a friend away,
Giving no time to say a fond farewell,
Adapt gently to loss, or yet to tell
What he, or she, meant to one day by day,
One scarce believes what callous fate has dared.

It’s like a ghastly dream, a gaping void,
A dark descent, an emptiness, un-buoyed
By happy memories of last days shared.

The time crawls by; one’s in a waking trance,
Unable to accept the hand of chance.