I was lucky that you died
when I was thirteen,
able to strum a few chords on my guitar,
to compose lyrics
straight from my gut.
The song I wrote evokes
every angle of the grief
from the emptiness
the moment I woke
wanting to keep my eyes closed,
my heart already sure
that you were gone, but resisting
my mother’s urgent message.
Going through that miserable day,
visiting your dog and sitting with him,
my arms around him,
whispering into his ear
what he already knew, too,
that you were never coming back
as the boy we knew so well.
And my chorus of hope,
that someone would find a cure
for leukemia, that you would be reborn
into a beautiful world,
that you would find the paradise
denied to you here.
And the tears running down my cheeks,
my thoughts that kept returning to you.
Thank you, young poet,
little songwriter,
for this perfect crystal
of grief, of yearning, of hope
that you kept for me
in this song that still can make me cry.
Dink’s Song (1971)
Verse 1
I have this empty feeling inside me
sort of an ache that won’t leave.
Crying don’t help, no, God,
it seems it’s here to stay.
Came here this morning when they told me you’d gone.
Chorus
I hope your next world will be paradise for you.
This world wasn’t very kind, it’s true.
Still you had love and many friends.
I just hope that you’ll find that love again.
Verse 2
I cried this morning when they told me.
I went to see your family that you left.
I saw your dog, he looked so lonely.
I told him, but I think he knew.
Chorus
Verse 3
I’m trying to keep my mind blank now.
My thoughts keep coming back to you.
Keep thinking ‘bout the pain that you went through.
I hope they find a cure, I wish it was for you.
I hope your next world will be paradise for you.
This world wasn’t very kind, it’s true.
Still, you had love and many friends.
I just hope that you find that love again.
God, I hope you’ll be happy again.
Inspired by The Daily Word Prompt: evoke
