Lighting a Stick of Incense

[Lake]

Lighting a Stick of Incense

 

Now he lies a continent away

from here, in his usual T-shirt

and jeans. He prefers nymphs

to bibles, so no priests present.

His computer must be at rest, too

for we haven't received

any emails nor seen

his name flashing since then.

 

What could I do

to a caring poet's death?

Once, he wrote to me,

Just remember never

to underestimate yourself,

it can sometimes prove to be

just as detrimental

as overestimation.

If you're unsure of

anything, just ask.

 

I was too late to ask

while he was awake.

Today, I light this thin

stick of incense for

this poet's broad heart

on his 101st birthday.

 

 

.

[tonyv]

What a heartfelt elegy/remembrance poem, Lake. From the intriguing start, which makes the reader wonder who this person is and where he is, to the manner of reflection in the middle verse, to the commemorative act in the last, I think this one is perfect. I love how you say, I was too late to ask/while he was awake.

 

Tony