What do we talk about old friend
When your life’s racing to its end?
You seem a stranger now, so thin
And mummified. When I came in,
I wasn’t really sure that it was you.
I try to hide my shock, pretend
Belief that you are on the mend.
I prayed those months you were away
For treatment but your looks betray
The failure of both science and my prayer.
For years our talk’s ranged far and near
We’ve solved world problems over beer,
Declaimed on sport, philosophy,
Dwelt on womens’ anatomy,
But death, close up, proves too embarrassing.