"Today I'm Blue!"

Today I’m blue,

For today I lost a friend,

A fellow poet and brother

And an Oh so human being.

So today I am blue!

I should be grateful 

For his release

From cancer and pain.

But I’ll do that tomorrow,

For today I am blue.

I should rejoice

At his friendship,

So freely given.

But today I cannot

Because today I am blue!

I should exalt

At the fun we shared

Colluding and duelling

With poetic words.

But that must wait,

For today I am so blue!

I should applaud

His art and his music

His poetry and his kindness

But I must shelve that for the moment

Because today I am blue!

I should celebrate our friendship

The kindnesses he showed me

His humour

And his cutting wit.

But that must be delayed.

For my eyes are clouded with tears

And today I am blue!

Yes, today I am blue,

For my old mate has gone.

Soma Dog, Cerberus,

My Ol’ Melbourne Bluesman

Has gone to pastures new.

I will celebrate his being,

But, sadly, not today

For my heart is breaking

And  I am so so blue!

Dedicated with the greatest affection to my old friend

Phillip Barker, The Soma Dog, Cerberus, my beloved friend!

Copyright © Res Burman 11^th June 2019