An Old Friend by Dan Provost

He is about to die in front of me; former friend,

an important man once in my life—now, just another

guy who found this existence tasteless,

worthless…

 

Too strong to proceed…

Too weak to observe…

 

I took the knife from his

bloody hand, wrist bleeding,

stomach drenched in final pursuit.

 

He was trying to say something—

 

“Worth, worthless?” I

 couldn’t make it out.

 

Staring at the blade

Wondering if I should

put it to my wrist.

 

Scared?

Sacred?

Faceless?

 

I stare at my demise a lot

these days—

 

One step.

One dead friend

at a time.

About Dan Provost: 

Dan Provost's poetry has been published throughout the small press for many years.  He is the author of nine books and lives in Berlin, New Hampshire with his wife, Laura--and their Bichon Frisce...Bella.