On hearing of Edgar's death
On hearing of Edgar's death
The phone rings
far too late for good news
Dear friend
So long
The time has passed for jokes and jibes
You fought the fight
How long?
Ten? Twenty years?
Eating away at your insides
Tumours the size of grape fruits
That's how you described them
On your spine, on your chest
Riddled throughout your beautiful body.
And no one knew
What to do
For yours was a rare one
Not found in the books
And so you fought
Oh how you fought
For life. To life. Lechaim!
And then the doctors and the experts
And in the end Death itself.
And those who might have known
scratched their heads and just moved on.
A brave fight but in the end
Death has had its way
And the shell that lies before me now
I can never recognise
For it's not you
You were so much more
And now your light is gone,
but not forgotten
Never forgotten.
Oh Edgar where have you gone?
And Beruria, you who have survived it all
From Nazi guns and troublesome son
Now you too must say goodbye.
A pain no mother should ever feel
But for you who gave him all his life
You who gave him all you had
All your love
All your love
And now you're gone, my friend dear friend
My buddy, my fine young man
Buried in the sand of sins
That sand we both called home
You touched us all. And we touched you
We say goodbye today
And see you off on your final trek
We'll meet again one day
Dear friend, farewell. Farewell, dear friend
We'll miss your smile, your face
Without your laugh, your elegance and grace
This world's a sadder place
Good bye, farewell, your time has come
As ours will surely too
Goodnight sweet Edgar. Sweet dreams, dear friend
Long life. Much love. Adieu.