Goodbye Dear Friend

I know that most of you don't know Spidey from another writing group. booksandpoems. But he was in that group with many of us for a long time. He had cancer and was agonizing over it, physically, emotionally and mentally, spiritually too I am sure. It makes me really sad, the day before he had surgery I wrote to him. I read all of his poetry that he wrote processing his fear and pain and I responded to him with love, support, kindness and I hope it helped him in a small way. Just wanted you to know. Thanks to another member of the group we were informed about his death. Goodbye dear Spidey. I loved you. Sincerely Shana aka Secretsides.

I have often wondered about members that have become dear friends of mine. What if they passed away and we never knew of it? What a tragic loss. It is for me anyway. I will have my daughter contact my on line friends in case something should happen to me. You all mean so much to me. This is a tribute to Spider.

You will not be memorialized like Farrah or Michael,
You are not famous or even young.
You didn't get cut down in your prime,
Or accomplish great things by societies standards.

It is unfortunate.
You were a biker,
Rough around the edges,
But you were a Vietnam Vet,
Brutalized with nightmares,
Who cares?

The injustice of a needless war,
Memories to bear,
That were beyond belief,
I listened.
Because I care.

I am sure many others do,
But then there will be no fanfare,
At least as far as society is concerned.
I wish I could be there,
But it is too far away.

I will be with you in spirit,
I believe that you can hear it.
I am so glad that I was with you,
If only on line.
I read your reams of poetry,
Your dreams.

It was important to you,
It was to me too.
I am so sorry for your agony,
Your fear.

I will shed tears,
Many more,
After the shock wears off.

I told you I would pray for you,
I believe it worked.
Maybe not the way we wanted.
I am not haunted,
Because I supported you,
In your fear.

God bless your gentle tortured soul,
Dear Spider.
I will meet you on the other side.
Maybe ride together,
That great motorcycle in the sky.

Young, free, happy and timeless,
Unfettered with bodily pain,
I first feared you,
Because of your name.
I hate Spiders,
But you won my trust,
Now I must say goodbye.
Rest peacefully dear friend,
It is the beginning,
Not the end.