To my dear friend now gone into the sky,
We didn’t have the chance to say goodbye.
Time it passes and it flows,
Experiences and life, time it goes.

I’ve known you since I was just fifteen,
My life changed when you appeared on the scene.
We had dreams of our lives together, and growing old,
But this life was not what our lives would hold.

For the memories we shared and me bunking off school,
The cider and laughter, the fun and playing pool.
The times you would always meet me from work,
Walking home, holding hands, young love it can hurt.

The years we spent, thinking our life was forever,
When years later, I realised our destinies were not to be together,
You went your way, and I went mine,
You soon remarried and I did in time.

The children we now have, but not together,
The talking we have done on Facebook messenger.
The photos and life on your Facebook page,
Where I have smiled, things change with age.

Time it changes things and life moves on,
You think we will forget the life that has gone.
From finding your first love and holding them close,
To it falling apart, not sure who hurts the most.

From knowing that person is alive in the world,
Knowing their life will continue to be told.
Knowing they are happy and that they are safe,
Things are okay and no need for grief.

From then knowing they are ill, but managing okay,
From chatting on messenger, willing them to stay.
Knowing one day there might be a telephone call,
Knowing that soon, their illness would end it all.

Being forewarned doesn’t arm you for the time ahead,
The feelings you have, the pain and the dread.
The knowledge you will never see them again,
Never again message, never again, in this life, be their friend.

So goodbye dear friend, I’m sad you had to go,
Hope you are safe with the Angels, you are loved, you know.
One day, I’m sure we will meet again,
For now, goodbye, see you later, my friend.

This was written for a friend who was once very close to me, who passed away on Saturday 14th December 2019.  May he forever rest in peace!