The First Message

by Don Byrd

The First Message
In Memoriam: Paul Byrd

These three years I watch my hands become his
hours pass in the stream of thinking
my hands are still.

My hands are still becoming his hands
it’s spring again, the third
since his hands were stilled.

His hands were never still
and when he called the conversation was hampered
because neither of us could say Death.

He would give me all the information I wanted
as long as I could ask and
he could answer without saying Death.

And I said, Do you get hungry ?
and he said, Yes, very hungry.

And I said, Who are the other people ?
and he said, I get hungry.

And I said, What do you do day by day ?
and he said, I watch the waves break on the cliffs.

And I said, What is your greatest joy ?
and he said, To watch the waves break on the cliffs.

And I said, I am asking the wrong questions,
and he said, All of the questions are wrong.

And I said, I am asking the wrong questions,
and he said, Are you hungry ?

And I said, I am asking the wrong questions,
and he said, What do you do day by day  ?

And I said, I get hungry,
and he said, I am asking the wrong questions.