Loss

(for my friend Sanford)

 

Love pitches

And slides down

No purchase for a hold

All last moments gone

 

You

Are friend sitting beside

Me, sometimes

Walking with me here

And there

 

You moved so slowly

Through the world

So that love might

Permeate, a message

In itself

 

Go slowly, the Buddhists

Say—you taught me

That

 

A righteous challenge

For those who move

Too fast, a badge

A sign that virtue

Is in rapidity alone

 

Rather what we do

While on the way

Is what makes the

Difference

 

And the love we leave

While on our way

 

Where you are

Is good, is right

Is healing, and is

Love—

 

You loved us here

Thank you for that

I cannot say good-bye