sonora2sonoma

The sudden death of a neighbor up the street.

The not so sudden but totally unanticipated passing

of another friend who had suffered for months

with an aggressive form of cancer known only to a few.

So this is what getting old is like

losing members of your flock

with increasing frequency.

Each of them stunning, each sending you reeling,

riding emotions for which no preparation can soften the sting

The regrets that follow . . .

I wish I’d been kinder to her

We should have visited more

Why didn’t I make more effort to stay in touch?

If only I hadn’t let what now appear to be petty annoyances

affect the quality of my devotion

My dad used to say he was reading the obituaries

to see if he was in them.

Something to pass the time

If not keeping in touch,

a way to keep track

until your name appears.

14 September 2015

Tim Konrad