I wrote this when my best friend was suddenly taken from my life...sometimes the road to healing lies along the pathway of pen and inks....I still miss him, but know I will see him again. One day, in a world free from pain. SHINE ON You walked among men for such a short while, Gracing us with your laughter, your person, your light. You brought such happiness into so many hearts; each day new and fresh...you were always there. Warmth and summertime..that was your smile.. Your eyes as blue as the cloudless sky above ... Closing them in the coldness of winter, Icy waters drown your laughter Stop the beating of your heart. Silence..as deep as the ocean..no laughter The tears flow Icicles upon the heart, so cold and gray Where are you gone to now? Are you shedding your light anew.. A new world- new friends, to warm them as you did us? I feel you in the spring- fresh start.. In the wind that blows, your laughter rings out Winter passes over, summer will come again.. And somehow I know that I will stand in your light once more... Another time- another place- Until then, my friend... Shine on- In memory.

Hmm, a very powerful poem. My heart truely missed a beat in the section where you described the "winter" part, it's so vivid and the emotions are so strong. A really sharp, straight to the heart description of that particular moment. And I did love the ending, the spring - life carries on - and the last two lines. I really loved this poem. So sorry you lost him.

Thank you much for your comments. It's a poem I rarely share, but sometimes in the sharing maybe someone else can find comfort or help with it...thank you again!

I like the idea that you feel your lost friends spirit most in the springtime, a regrowth of hope and freshened memory as well as the traditional seasons rebirth. Thanks for sharing. Shanna :-)

"I feel you in the spring-fresh start,"very powerful line, the second verse is strong, the imagery there pulls the reader into the emotion of the poem. All in all excellent poem. Great spring concept! Bravo!

Beautiful tribute to a friend, brought a tear to my eye.

Excellent thoughts well phrased.

I thank you all for your comments. Death is never an easy thing to face, especially of one you care for so deeply. The pain may lessen over time, yet it never truly goes away. That is why I wrote this...not only to maybe somehow help myself by remembering Danny in my own way, but by reminding myself that he is free from the suffering and cares of this life, and hopefully in a better place...and that, if I am lucky, I will see him again. And if I never do..he is in everything around me. I only hope that others find comfort in those simple words, and that they help someone the way they helped me to write. :)

I don't know the death of someone close in frinedship. Perhaps that is why death comes to me so often as an enemy. An old friend died in a hotel, someone I was no longer in contact with who had flunked out of college. My chemistry lab partner who competed with me and was a bit alien killed himself with a pistol the first semster at Christmas. A good friend whom I had vistied after leaving town and whom I had sold the old engine out of my car to died years later at less than 50 died of a heart attack. These pull at my memory but not at my heart. Different experiences breed different cats.

It's beautiful. Tribute poems like these are very difficult for me to discuss (for personal reasons) so I'll simply say that you've honored his memory well.

A very well done, and heart felt poem. It sort of gave me chills, and brought a tear to my eye as well. They say time heals all, but some things never completely heal. I am sure he would be pleased with this tribute. jon