Dirt In My Hand Poem by Juan Olivarez

I just could not see him that way,
So I chose not to go.
After all what could I say,
When they asked me, I said no.....no, no.

All my life my one regret,
Was that I never said good bye.
That I never straightened out my head,
Long enough to go and cry......a bit.

I went to his hospital bed,
And he just stared at me.
And a terrible loss there filled my head,
I knew what was to be.......I knew.

I couldn't bear to lose my friend,
I couldn't bear to see him go.
I didn't want my heart to mend,
All my voice would say was no......no, no.

But now I wish I could have been,
There with dirt in my hand.
And said good bye to my best friend,
And he could have watched me stand......next to him.

11/10/10 Alton Texas