Eulogy Elegy

Friend, stay awhile!
The glasses have been filled and refilled and all

the old stories have been retold——comedies
and tragedies alike. You are awash in accolades

(the curses we keep to ourselves). Music
is playing and we are dancing out of time.

But there is only so much space in which to
remember——which is not to say we didn’t

love you. For now, your place is at the table
where we are gathered, though there is more

to consider than just the ghost of your glory.
The clock ticks and we have heard it

said that in six months’ time you will become
    a bell’s toll /
        lifting fog /
            an empty room.