Did I?

that thief,
foul despoiler,
chanced in the dying hour
left no opportunity for
goodbye

five hundred miles
might well have been
millions
when that arresting call
arrived

no mind how swift
my progress cross
land sea or air all chance
to bid farewell
passed

naught then but to
tear and howl
obscenity heaven bound
while dirty tears
washed

strained grimace
could not recall
whether spoken
“I love you” was
shared

that hateful day
we left before
you were gone
forever lost
beyond