I tried to call you
You did not answer
I needed to tell you
A great loss had occurred
Last we talked
You told me you were stricken
I felt a hammer blow
With salted eyes we said
I love you
Powerful words rarely spoken
Between grown men/brothers
I tried to call you
A great loss had occurred
I needed your voice
Your guidance
Your oneness with me
Our unbroken bond
I tried to call you
My loss was so great
I had to tell you
My body armor was cracked
Part of my being was leaking out
You would understand
You would help me
I tried to call you
You did not answer
You could not answer
Because my loss
Was you
(Editor’s Note: The poem was written by Julian Terry in memory of his brother, Harlan who passed away from pancreatic cancer.)