A Sudden Eulogy

Someone that I worked with for years suddenly passed away. I realized how little I knew of her world. What I did know did not paint the kindest of portraits. I was touched by the reaction of another person. I would have never suspected that there had been a connection between the two of them. From different generations, different cultures, different attitudes and yet tears were being shed. The unexpected passing's are the most difficult to understand. No warnings. There and expressing yourself one day, Gone from the world just a few hours later. I struggled with that thought for quite awhile. Still do in some ways. Things happen so fast sometimes and then a short while later, are forgotten.



For the past twenty years
We developed judgments and assigned reputations
From the rumored facts of your life
Today,
Tomorrow,
None of that matters
What remains?
Just the empty space where we gaze
Still expecting to see you there
There dawns a slow realization
You won't be back
Witness the few still here,
Somewhat acquainted with your story
One sits lost,
Turning unread, seemingly blank pages
Turns and smiles at me
In that instant I can feel her loss
And hear her far away thoughts
Another, who shared little in common
Not even a common language
Fixates on the posted news
Where the word has been shared with the masses
Asks if it's true then returns to her daze
You had obviously forged a bond
Lacking spoken works
Her tears overwhelm the barriers
Did you realize how much she cared?

I'm hoping you found some shade
And a place to relax
The problems of all around you
Are no longer your worry
In time, they'll find another solution
As it was, they shortened your days
That much surely is true
In your wake
How many of us have paused and pondered
our own mortality?
And from your surviving legacy
Realized the difference between perception and reality
Why?
We never knew you well
We never shared much between us
But your absence has opened a void in this life
In this world
A void we gently feel our way around today
Cautions that it may call again
On any of us
In an instant, when least expected

What were your last thoughts?
In that moment
Did you realize you were passing?
Despite the existing indications
No warning was received
By them
By me
It should have been obvious
But we had no time to stop and look
No time to listen
11/30/03