Stolen Years

In response to the suicide of a friend for whom I was
the sole confidante



Sleep softly, in safe hands, dear friend
where terrors find no place, nor demons wait.
Your tortured dreams at last have reached their end.
No more with pounding heart in fright awake.
Nor fear to face the day, its pain unknown,
so fraught with shocks too harsh to bear alone.
I cannot now begrudge the rest you sought,
though sudden unforeshadowed loss is mine.
What love could bid you linger? For none ought.
“But I would have you stay!” is my heart’s cry.
For endless time you’ll sleep through stolen years,
your ageless smile remembered here with love.
Sole guardian of your secret heart, my tears
are all that can be told. It is enough.