Reflecting on a Friend

Who hurt you so?

Who long ago

When you were young?

Who did, said, became, betrayed,

And froze your tongue?

Something that you did not know

Beauty could ever do, it did.

One more man hurt by life,

Something deathless dropped dead,

Ugliness revealed.

“Jim laughs at it”, she said.

What hidden grief inspires that laugh?

Where once you might have stood and stared,

Uncomprehending at this thing,

Now a laugh that covers pain.