by LJ Frank
without disguise or pretext
an endearing, gracious friend
central casting placed her
in a pivotal role
on a stage where she could perform
possessing a youthful mind and romantic eyes
and storing fanciful, sensitive insights within
though nurturing was wanting when she was a child
and experiences accumulated
when an opportunity was revealed
offering a guileless smile amid any struggle
for she knew
joy occurs in a breath
and even in meditation
the air is inhaled
and exhaled in rhythm
but then a sensation entered her flesh
moments attempted to extend the hour
but the next few days
were transformed into minutes
care was intensive
breathing grew more arduous
it was the calling card of a virus
and the child of her womb was not there
umbilical cord severed years before
but the hope remained
for their health and happiness
as existence is but a series of breaths
and then a message from a nurse –
my dear friend’s body
died this morning
alone
without a confidant’s touch
save the memory of her gracious, earthy life.