Gone, not forgotten

For those of us cleansed

of devils red

a wry smile appeared

no tears were shed,

a window of hope

for the rest of us souls

who had our hopes dashed

by your precocious hold.

We lined no streets

to witness your passing

or hailed to the chief

bowing out in his glory -

your reign as the king

not a part of our story;

Instead we rejoiced

The king passed on the reins

but has his watch stopped

or does it tick on unhinged?

A new dawn may beckon

fresh is the day

will this now herald

the changing of ways?

Or will we be left

as so often before

outside looking in

left to implore

the if’s and the maybe’s

the ‘what could have been’s’

The great man is gone

still held in esteem.