Tilly

Oh Tilly
How did I know you but – Not?
How did I look in your smiling eyes
And not see the pain behind?
How did we talk so long and so deep
But still not deep enough?

Could I have helped you?
Could I have saved you?
Could I have borne the burden
If you had…
And I hadn’t…
And you did as you’ve done

Anyway?

Oh Tilly
Shining friend
What drove you?
What pulled you?
What broke you?
What did the demons whisper?
Oh Tilly.

Oh Tilly
You pulled me into the dance
The dance I wanted to join but could not without you.
You joined my joy
As I found joy in your space
The mysteries you’d known
And I just discovered

You smiled at me
And I knew I did OK
Which was heaven singing
In you Oh Tilly.
Dance on.

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Written after the shocking news of the suicide of a friend.