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)