035. Remembering Lost Friends Poem by Jaden Knight

I stumble up the winding path
towards the dark meeting room
my lantern shines brightly
showing some hope in the night
against the pouring rain

As I unlock the thick oak door
a cold shiver runs down my back
the heavy door swings open
revealing dust covered furniture
the tables and chairs still in the double circle
the old bike wheel’s rim
or so they called it then
the lines from the tables inside the chair circle
all join to form one in the center
a sign of unity and continuous friendship

I move to the center of the room
into the middle of the once friendly circle
the map still lies by the leader’s chair
with the detailed plans on the back
they still outline the last stand
of some of my older friends
in their final struggle
against being destroyed

The empty chairs
and dust covered tables
seem to look new once more
as the lightning flashes outside
my dead friends come into the room
and go straight to their seats in the circle
the leader picks up the map
and begins the meeting

The smart green suited ghosts
Ignore my pleading cries
they speak in low voices
to avoid being over heard
I notice that one of the chairs is still empty
but it isn’t mine

He died before the final meeting
crying out in pain
he was found outside the meeting room
with blood staining his neat white suit
I can still hear his chilling cries outside

At dawn my friends leave the oak paneled room
confidently striding down the path
I hear their foot steps fade
leaving me alone once more

I was unable to help any of them
as they lay where they had fallen
peacefully asleep
like little children in their beds
leaving the lone survivor to explain to me
what happened to the rest of the group

I leave the circle behind me
and with it the smell of forgotten death
as I walk back down the sunlit path
I see the lone survivor
by the weeping willow tree
waiting for the others to join him
in their smart green suits
but they will never come