THE SURVIVOR
I sit now wondering
of a story I have heard
from one of my friends
of life and death and pain
She sits with tears staining
her bright sparkling eyes
she told of an old friend
who had committed suicide
They shared everything
their hopes and their fears
their dreams and their realities
their pains and their joys
They were forever talking
between the months
a close friendship develops
as it sometimes does
Life if not bearable
was made a little better
hope shared between the two
lasted longer for them
But something happened
something unforeseen
I really don't know what
but the effect can be seen
A note was sent
explaining the reasons
why he could not
continue living anymore
Hope was lost for him
and he decided that
death might be a better
thing than life and pain
What happens to a person
when their best friend
commits suicide and they're
left alone in a friendless world
For as I listen my heart
understood for once the pain
pain I have only felt in part
but it was easy to survive
But for my friend she knows
that life can be very painful
she is willing to survive
but takes little joy in life
Oh but for the survivor
more joy can be found
but the pain will never leave
it will lessen but never leave
Paul Vernon Deffendall
March 16, 1990
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