I lost a friend the other day,
not the way people lose their dog
and put up posters on telephone poles
and hope that someone finds it and calls the number,
but really and truly lost her
into the deep recesses of who knows where.
We knew she was looking for the exit.
We knew she would soon find it.
We all knew.
That doesn’t make it easier.
Each of us stood trying to block the passage
with unguents and talismans,
voodoo and mojo makers
but in the end she pushed past those amulets of hope,
and rushed with a sigh of forgiveness and love
towards the open door
giving us a peek into our own fragility
with her courage and strength
