Kurt Philip Behm

Given Words

My youth and virility

left behind

 

The future-past

now so unkind

 

All laughter dormant,

children gone

 

The days too short,

the nights too long

 

But words stay with me

always will

 

Through light and dark

inscription fills

 

If meaning suffers

intents the same

 

New flowers distant

old fragrance claimed

 

But memories call

then call again

 

And often stay

my dearest friends

 

The white smoke rises

but just a whiff

 

These words as given

—my greatest gift

 

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2018)