Ode to A Friend

What Can I say...–Old Friend?

After fifteen years, of a remarkable comradeship.

From when first we met?

And our coffee meets were set

on our back-verandahs

that became weekly events on our calendars?

About a friend beyond compare

A possession for me … most rare.

Yester evening, just for a while,

With your family and friends

I sat by your bedside

As hours penultimate then moments passed.

Sensing your feeling, your weariness –your impatience

I watched your heart and lungs struggle

to perform the roles for which they were cast.

As each of us present strove to comfort you

the tears flowed; but time- relentless time ? moved on.

I always knew how

You bore the endless wait with poignant humour

I remember how affably enraged you were

by your capacity ? diminishing

at the expense of your incredible creativity

I perceived how sterile frustration affected you

And in your lowest moments, humorously, we discussed …

What seemed infinity would become finite

And as we sipped or slurped our coffees,

scoffed ‘home-brand’ cakes and ‘bikkies’

made ‘special for our ‘mornings’ …we’d

swop ideas and stories that life created;

Analyzed the politicking, the rorting and the scams

Oh! Hilariously scorning my canvass dreams.

As between mouths, full of J’s patisserie creations,

We hewed the cud; a perfect world we did beget;

sacked crummy politicians with factional might;

stacked party rooms with them as right

Mate! … I have you to thank for such edification;

You related tales of many a youthful prank

Creating little bombs that really stank and I mean…stank.

Uni degrees no match for your education!

You’ve done your bit; earned a rest; but I’d like to bet

that those steam-driven ‘Pink’ clouds you invented

will heaven abound as you intended

I have you to thank for my edification

Well may you have passed-on

But in my ‘gold’ book you haven't gone!