This day will be the hardest
I have been dreading it
But here we are
It is time to bury the dead
It is time to let go
It is time to move on
It is time to turn to each other
Those who are still living
To raise a glass
To make a toast
To swear we will always remember
To promise to keep in touch
And unlike at other gatherings
Here I actually believe in these oaths
We have kept them for so long
We will keep them
Until we are the ones being buried
Our friends standing above us
Gently laying the dirt over our faces
And whispering that they will find us
On the other side of the veil
And once again
In this instance
I do believe them
There are some people
That never leave your life
No matter how much or little
You keep in touch
They are always at your shoulder
Whispering in your ear
Giving you the hug you wish you had
And reminding you how far you’be gone
Like a mental hitchhiker
They planted themselves here long ago
They have been here so long
You don’t know how to be without them
Even when their bodies give up to the grave
Their ghost still lingers
Saying what you need to hear
Making you smile from the beyond
And reminding you
That some friendships
Never really leave you
We say goodbye for now
But they will forever live
In our hearts and minds