When My Friend....

When my friend
Told me he had AIDS,
I was upset.
It reminded me
Of the story of Job,
And how God
Can reap such misery,
And extol such joy,
But never alone,
Always in tandem.

Tragedy is something
That can breathe life
Into our unconscious world
And wake us up
To just how
Fortunate we are.

It's hard
When my friend
Is feeling sad.
How can what I say
Even begin to make
An impact,
When he has to deal
With bigotry
And isolation?

Just to exist
In our time
Is a challenge.
But to embrace life
Requires something
We've put aside:
It is called love.

I hope
When my friend
Takes his leave
Of this planet,
My tears
Will be for his love
And for his humanity,
Not for his departure.

Author Unknown