Mantle of Stone

The earth sinks beneath my feet

Swelling with the rhythm of a heart

Of a soul that no longer takes breath

Friend you lay not a foot from me

But are farther away than I ever thought possible

Your beautiful smile, your gaze-

Only an ember of a distant memory

I came here my friend to seek solace

From a pain that does not ebb and cannot be taken away

A wish that transcends all logic and reasoning

A sad truth that I cannot face nor accept

Life lasts but a fleeting moment

And I cannot blame you for becoming lost

It will take time but I will teach myself to not

Regret what I may have said, what I may have done

And what I might have changed so things might be different

As I stand here in the cold

I find not only you were taken

There’s an emptiness in my soul

One that proves immeasurable and dark

An abyss existing beyond knowledge

It’s the loss of you my dear friend

For when you left a spark was taken

Something part of me left with you

And I am left with nothing save memories

I will leave you here today

And instead of a kiss on your forehead

I will leave my affection upon a mantle of cold stone

When I leave I will not cry

For the thing I came here looking for

Is not here at all-just stillness and death

And when I leave my heart will weigh all the heavier

As I whisper goodbye to you my friend