My Friend, John Summers

 

My Friend, John Summers

© by Bud Lemire on Oct 25, 2023

I knew you way back, at Washington School long ago

You were a classmate, one that I came to know

I knew you as John Kossow, but you went by Summers too

Sometimes I never knew, what name to call you

By any of those names, you were a friend to me

After school we'd get together, we were kids naturally

Sometimes we'd play marbles, sometimes we'd just talk

Other times we would meet up with others, or go for a walk

Your sister Barbara, was a classmate too

She was someone, that I also knew

In later years, I found you kitty corner from the school we went to

I'd stop and visit awhile, I enjoyed the times reminiscing with you

We talked about the present, we talked about the past

We talked about friends we knew, but these times didn't last

John had his share of health problems, he described them to me

You couldn't tell by looking at him, at least I couldn't see

I looked forward to my fish on Fridays, and visits with this friend

Like all good things in life, it came to an end

I wondered why, I hadn't seen him in his yard anymore

Sometime later, I found out, he had walked through “The Door”

“The Door” to the other side, his body became spirit

I know he'll be happy there, although I was sad to hear it

It's not easy to say goodbye to a friend. It's not easy to say

goodbye to anyone. I'd like to think of it as “Thanks for crossing

into my path and being my friend for a time.” I know it's not goodbye.

I'll be seeing you again, when my time comes.