I read my poem in retrospect

my response to his comment

a show of respect

for his trouble taken,

the sharp eye for detail

well thought out

intelligent

balanced

his comment taken down.

 

And then I realized my friend was gone

no trace remaining

of his welcome song,

the stuff of his life

his wit and wisdom

removed as if it had never been,

the space erased

a seamless exclusion.

 

A rung missing from the scaled ladder

nobody notices except for me

a window on his world bricked up

a travesty

an insult to the spirit of the free.

 

The death of his words has served a purpose

a cleansing of intent

a moving on,

the thoughts remain hanging in time

like the seeds of dreams

unsown.