Saturday, September 10, 2005

At a Loss

I wrote this poem in January of 1982 after my friend, Carl, was killed in a car accident. He was a talented young man, a dear person whom I'll always remember... Why did you have to leave?
It wasn't time for you to go --
The memories weren't yet complete.
There was so much more to learn,
and know...
Too many words have been left unspoken;
Too many things you hadn't yet done.
Your life can't be over...
It had only begun.

Why aren't you here?
I can still see your face,
Hear your laugh,
Touch your hand.
I've watched you grow and you came so far...
You were so alive and full of plans.
There's too much of life that you haven't yet lived.
It can't be over.
You had much more to give.

I sit alone, without you,
Wondering...
Do angels hold your hand now
And guide your footsteps?
Can you see us, hear us,
Us who loved you,
Whose lives are less bright
Now that you are gone?
It shouldn't be over...
You had reasons for living,
For going on.

You know now
What we all ask ourselves...
What is to happen
After this life, this world?
Will I ever see you beyond the pictures
In my mind
Of what used to be?
You were so young,
And I can't understand
Why God took you away
When you weren't yet a man.
It wasn't your time...
Why did you leave?

5 comments:

Gleyes said...

I love your poem. Carl looks like a sweetie. Love that smile. We really are much alike. Sometimes there are emotions that only poetry can express. I've gotten to know you alittle better today.... Again, the conviction that we must meet has arisen in me....

Lori said...

Thanks, gleyes. I was in my sophmore year of college when he was killed. Since I was away from home I didn't learn about the accident until I was home for Christmas break. The funeral and everything was already passed. He was a year younger than me and when I met him his first year in high school, I couldn't stand him! Such a brat! But as the years went by he grew so much and turned into an amazing young man. He was a dear friend whose life was cut far too short.

Thanks for commenting. I'm confident that someday our paths will cross. In the meantime, I'm enjoying getting to know you as well.

clew said...

Hi Lori,

Wonderful poem - it touched me more than you know. I lost my dear friend Joe when we were only out of high school a few years. I still grieve for him ... Hard to understand some things, which I guess is what faith is all about ...

If you want to backtrack, I wrote about him in one of my first posts - "The Touch of the Master's Hand" - :)

I'm starting to become pretty amazed at how much our lives and experiences and views parallel :D! Have a good week!

HeyJules said...

I'm the third to say the same thing...beautiful poem. I also lost a young man to cancer at the age of 25 and thought I'd lose my mind it hurt so bad.

I see my friend in your friend's smile. Thanks for reminding me of a very special friend.

Lori said...

Here's to all of our dear friends whose lives were cut too short.

You really did touch our lives with yours...and we'll never forget.