Stephen

Drawing by the poet, 1997. Poem written 19.11.2010.

For Stephen
Domine, si fuisses hic, frater meus non fuisset mortuus Pie Jesu Domine, dona ei requiem.

The day we met, a friends guitar you played, Intent on winning my esteem; Exuberant, you, but I was plain and staid; To me, you were a handsome dream. I could but marvel what it was that made You seek the likes of humble me But oh, you did! With charm, you slyly bade Me take the gift you gave for free. Your gracious gift was laughter, and your smiles, The special friendship that we shared, Our times alone, your ever-present wiles, And even the lonely heart you bared. Oh, life was very happyjust for me: I never could have dreamed of such. My only likely fault (if fault it be) Was that I loved you, aye, too much. ___________________________

The morning that you died, my much-loved boy, I scarce could take the sad news in; My Day grew dark, my life devoid of joy; My Soul, too, had died within. How can a young man in his strength and prime, With rage I cried aloud to God, Be riven, and laid to waste, before his time? Not him, not him! On me thy Rod! Yet all these years have passed, and still I go, Resigned, with heavy heart, and pause In deep reflection at your grave, for oh! No grief, though great, annuls Gods laws. Pitiless and inexorable, His decree, From now until eternity; Not for the likes of you, or humble me, Were joys like ours meant to be free.

________________________

When I was young, I foolishly believed The hopeful verse Love conquers all; Yet see me now: alone, by you bereaved-By you, made desolate withal. I wonder what a man you might have been, What sort of life you might have led: But idle speculation will not clean My soul to brighter hope instead. Theres now no help for me (I realise), A grieving Sinner of less worth; I can no more than cast these plaintive eyes Upon the leavings of your Earth; Love conquers much, oh yes: I know its true-Love conquered me! But surely we Will know this Truth, when we must pay our due: Death conquers all, both you, and me!

T.J. White