while i was out building morale
you
with your Cobra
were dying

details are relative
your wife waits
unknowing that i think of her at this moment
or
that you never again will

you were just a boy - 19
immature
with much to learn

but you were playing men's games
the stakes were high
and you lost

or rather
we
your team
lost

last night we wanted to be alone
so we made excuses
and left you

i`m sorry now
but it's much too late for apologies
you're too busy derosing from the world
and being reassigned to eternity
to know how i feel

unreality
total incomprehension 
death is too final to contemplate

dwelling upon the loss of a friend
is death in life

life is for the living
death is for the dead
and so
       	Kenny
		we must now go our separate ways

good-bye's are sad
but if we'd never said hell-o
we'd not have to say good-bye
and the happiness of your hell-o's
far surpasses 
the tragedy of your good-bye

the sad part
		is not
			that you're dead

the sad part
		is 
			that you are no longer alive
 
i'll miss you
			kenny

	emily strange
	©1969