funeral for a friend

This poem is for Brian Sohn and for his family left behind too soon. All are always in our thoughts, especially Ian & Kelly


Let us turn our slick blacks
To the wind. Close our ears
To the funereal din. Someone
Muffle please the clapper, let this
Toll be one of silence.
We’ve no want of joy today.

Let the flowers not bloom,
Nor the moon wax heavy.
Let the skies stay mauve grey
Let the rain be our baptism.
Please let’s not speak of heaven
There is no comfort to be found.
Permit us to believe that it is not he
We lowered to the course and heavy
soil. Let us know his soul took flight.

Put away the polished silver
Pack up the fine china.
Leave the clocks unwound
Remove the ribbons from your hair.
One of us has died.

------
by
Sadi Ranson-Polizzotti
sotto voce

poetry

tant mieux

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Article Author: Sadi Ranson-Polizzotti

Sadi Ranson-Polizzotti is a published writer in both the United States and Europe. She is widely known for her music commentary, particularly her writings about Bob Dylan about whom she runs a highly-trafficked site. …

Visit Sadi Ranson-Polizzotti's author pageSadi Ranson-Polizzotti's Blog

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  • 1 - Shark

    Sep 04, 2004 at 10:26 am

    Nice piece, Sadi.

  • 2 - Eric Olsen

    Sep 04, 2004 at 12:13 pm

    very sad and moving but not maudlin, thanks Sadi, you are special

  • 3 - srp

    Sep 04, 2004 at 2:49 pm

    thanks, Eric.

    It was oneof those poems that just came out, and i think it really c aptures for me how i feel about losing "one of us." it's hard enough to lose a friend, but it brings to mind for all of us just how very tenuous life is -- how thin-fine and fragile. i know, that's cliched, but it's also true and i, anyway, want to live every minute of it fully and wholly - suck the marrow of life, right?

    thanks for featuring and reading;

    s.

  • 4 - srp

    Sep 04, 2004 at 2:55 pm

    thanks, shark... thx. for reading. may not always succeed, i know, but i do try hard. i'm glad you liked this one.

    cheers,

    srp

  • 5 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo

    Sep 06, 2004 at 8:24 pm

    very very beautiful sadi. you are fast becoming one of my must-reads, i might add.

  • 6 - Eric Olsen

    Sep 06, 2004 at 9:04 pm

    I actually see many parallels between you, though not stylistically, of course. You both dig below the surface and use your personalities, experiences and knowledge of the world to try to find meaning, and you are both fearless. We are very lucky to have you both

  • 7 - Mark Saleski

    Sep 06, 2004 at 10:19 pm

    yea, i've gotta chime in here on the "me too's".

    i find sadi & the duke two extremely interesting reads.

    ..though i must say that i can't read either of 'em late at night as my sleepy-induced dyslexia can cause me to mix up the fucks with the motherfuckers.

    very confusing.

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