came upon this 

bench in a park

with

 a beautiful view

looking out

toward the water

at first

seeing it was covered with flowers

 i imagined 

a romantic gesture

 left behind 

in their happiness

for others 

to enjoy

 as i got closer

 

 

i read the dedication at the top of the bench

‘to vincent’

‘so we can sit and talk forever. godspeed’

october 31, 2004 – october 8, 2024

born on halloween

gone before he could celebrate

his 20th halloween and birthday

what a loving dedication 

 a wish to stay connected

a place to return

to sit in silence

with their memories of him

 

 

i then understood the real reason

the flowers and cards

with hearts on them

all with his name 

‘vincent’

were left here 

the marker

the paper

left behind

perhaps

for those

who might come later

in their own time

did this begin 

with one friend 

missing him

other friends 

each arriving 

as they could

or

all at once

did he love this park

did he love the view

do they

have memories

of times there

shared with 

vincent

the flowers

a gift of beauty

the notes

i imagine

were 

a gift of words

to say

we miss you

to say

we remember you 

to say

we love you

to say

we won’t ever forget you

i picture them

returning to this bench

each year

on the anniversary

of losing their dear friend

looking toward the water

remembering

vincent.

—

‘you meet people who forget you. you forget people you meet.

but sometimes you meet those people you can’t forget.

those are your friends.’

~ Mark Twain