Tempus Fugit
(Time Flies)
They should still be preschoolers
singing in the children’s choir
round-faced cherubs, both
ever so serious.
Time flies.
Or
children on vacation
tasting salt on their tongues, brine in the wind
with sand on their toes, in their hair
eating pickles from a jar.
Time flies.
Or
teenagers at Bojangles’
laughing, cutting up
marching in the band, going to the prom
still singing the old hymns together.
Time flies.
Or
college kids, going their separate ways
friends temporarily parted
by finding their own paths, until
one ended on a fresh spring night.
Time flies.
She wrote that he was part
of her favorite childhood memory.
On the eve of her funeral, he dreamed
he heard her singing
of the ocean.
Time flies
Time flies
Time flies.
*******
One year ago today, my younger son (the Cadillac man) lost his childhood friend in an accident.
She was eighteen.
lit bits and pieces 
Such a moving post. And even though it’s been one year I am sure the pain is still so raw – that’s the sense I get from your poem. Keeping you in my thoughts today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So sad, such a tender, thoughtful poem, so heartrending when we lose someone so young.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So thoughtful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I figured from your comment that your poem would be sad, but it’s more than sad. It’s a tribute to her and to their friendship–to their moments and memories, and to his grief. It’s a beautiful poem, Fran.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a tribute, exactly – to her, to him, to childhood, to friendship, to the everyday moments of simply living. His childhood ended that day. He misses her. Thank you, Melanie.
LikeLike
♡Beautiful♡
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful poem that captures those moments in childhood that we take for granted until tragedy happens. I’m so sorry for your son’s loss. Too soon. Too soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have an 18-year-old son — can’t even imagine. My worst nightmare really. It is amazing you have the strength to create beauty from this tragedy. You remind me to cherish every moment, every day because time does fly for so many reasons.
Clare
LikeLiked by 1 person
We miss our young friend; my son speaks of her nearly every day. I still reel, one year later, with hearing the words “She’s dead.” It’s one thing to miss a young person’s vibrant presence (she had a beautiful singing voice) but also hard to grapple with all that might have been and will never be. For me, for my son’s sake, this tiny poem is an attempted thank-you for what she was in his life. Today at the anniversary gathering, her mother asked him to give the prayer. And thank you, Clare, for your words here.
LikeLike
This was so powerful, so beautiful….it brought tears to my eyes. There was love, joy, and so much goodness in this poem. A real tragedy. Several riding students of mine – that were more like my own children – are no longer here. They were so young. Your poem tugged at my heartstrings. Thanks for the reminder that life is a short dance – we should embrace it fully – every single day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for this beautiful response, Lynne; my son misses his friend and frequently relives these moments. He recently remembered them sharing pickles from a jar when they were at the beach as young children – it’s when he started liking pickles. Life really is “a short dance” as you say so well. I ache for the losses of your young loved ones as well – there’s a strength or a peace, I think, that can only be found in reliving the simple, happy moments.
LikeLike
This is so beautiful. My son lost a classmate on the first day of school this year in a car accident. I thought of her as I read your poem. Incredibly poignant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your response – I am so sorry for your son’s loss also. On the first day of school, too; how haunting, in that it should have been a new beginning. My son’s friend didn’t finish her first year of college. There’s such a loss of “what might have been” when they go so young.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful memories on a sad day for you and your family. The swelling and shrinking of the lines reminds me of how grief affects us; we can go for days without it, then a memory makes it grow in our heart and thoughts again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is beautiful. Thank you. Yesterday we marked 10 years since my brother-in-law died. He was 24. This makes me think of how his friends may have reacted to his death. I hope that they can celebrate the good memories as you have here. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am sure it seems impossible that your young brother-in-law has been gone ten years. I am sure his friends and family mark those birthdays and many “would have been” moments, as we do … She would have been nineteen last August, This year she would have been twenty … all the milestones that should have been are painful to mark. And we will mark them for a long, long time. I hope your brother-in-law’s friends gather and remember the fun and happy times; there’s strength and healing in it. And thanks so much for your words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both of our sons lost young friends. It was devastating to them. It’s our worse parent nightmare. Peace to both of you today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much and ongoing peace to your boys also, as I know the loss is carried always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heartbreaking to lose someone so close. There’s an ache in the heart that can’t be healed. Time will dull the ache, but it’s always there. You have written a beautiful poem to honor their friendship. Such a sweet picture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is sad and beautiful. A lovely tribute.
LikeLiked by 1 person