before the night finally fell
the clouds began to dissolve
in the orange sunset
that kissed the rain as it died

tonight he also dies
a friend weeps for him
under the trees below
the mountain of heaven

'do not cry, but live
this is the only mourning
i will accept from you'
he said, and then slept

the night came
and the mountain snored
stars shined among the wispy clouds
that refused to cry

when the friend awoke
he found the other gone
but distant music began
to filter from the sky

the sun arose with a star beside
a companion soon to die
a tall cloud was rising
that was as pure as his love

but the song continued
as life said it must
as he finally left the mountain
music followed him all his days



excerpt from 'A Chorus of Voices', by Kurt Messick
Dry Bones Press, 2003