how old times come back to visit
...........................................

and then the news came
as though from across ages
just a mention by a mutual friend
that he had passed away
and all those unvisited thoughts
all the memories, all the history
the children loved and driven away
laughter nobody remembers
injuries noone forgets
a swirl of sorrow, joy, guilt
from so long ago that it should have
felt much less immediate
been much less able to
sideswipe a day

and no flowers
no condolences
no tears
can bring it back
or really make it
go away

	-acm

(for W.J.U. and P.M.McD.,  May, 2000)