while i was out building morale

you

with your Cobra

were dying

details are relative

your wife waits

unknowing that i think of her at this moment

or

that you never again will

you were just a boy - 19

immature

with much to learn

but you were playing men's games

the stakes were high

and you lost

or rather

we

your team

lost

last night wanted to be alone

so we made excuses

and left you

i`m sorry now

but it's much too late for apologies

you're too busy derosing from the world

and being reassigned to eternity

to know how i feel

unreality

total incomprehension 

death is too final to contemplate

dwelling upon the loss of a friend

is death in life

life is for the living

death is for the dead

and so

       	Kenny

		we must now go our separate ways

good-bye's are sad

but if we'd never said hell-o

we'd not have to say good-bye

and the happiness of your hell-o's

far surpasses 

the tragedy of your good-bye

the sad part

		is not

			that you're dead

the sad part

		is 

			that you are no longer alive

i'll miss you

			kenny

emily strange

©1969