November 14, 2011

It's long, but I hope you understand why.

 

 

While you were in seventh,

Do you remember that boy in eighth grade,

The skinny pale twelve year old

Whose long golden brown hair flowed from a loose ponytail?

How could I forget?

The way my friends asked if he was a girl,

Claimed if we weren't in uniform,

He'd definitely be mistaken for a girl

And how could I forget,

The teasing, the pushing, those terrible glares

This poor boy faced everyday

I can't believe my mind would deceive me,

Judged him before I knew what he was about.

 

In thirteenth grade, it was obvious, that golden hair

Drooping off his shoulders, just shy of his waist

We noticed him, but our lips were sealed tight

Curious as to why he grew his hair so long,

They didn't want to know him, but I demanded why

Now regretting the chance I got

'Cause it was a chance I didn't take.

 

Eleventh grade, times got hard

My friends ignored me, I had no-one

But all of a sudden, I was met with a smile

One brief smile that made my day

By a boy who was a grade above, a cute one at that

Whose skin was translucently pale,

Hair was none

His beauty surrounded him,

His happiness alight

I never realised, he was battling a terrible fight.

 

One strange day, I realised the boy had disappeared

I asked around, but they only sneered

Months passed, the memory started to fade

But I never forgot his smile, how it made my day.

 

November fourteenth, I read a status

About a boy named Logan who had passed away

One look at his photo was all it took for me to realise

That the translucently pale boy in the picture

Whose hair was none,

Was the same boy who smiled at me for no reason at all

Skimming through pictures, all I could do was cry

As I saw the golden hair.

 

Logan, I understand

I heard your dream and now I understand

You were hoping your long golden hair

Could be used as wigs for children battling cancer

You didn't care about their disapproving stares

You knew what you stood for.

 

I heard your memorial was held at Knighton,

The primary school I attended,

The primary school your Mum works at

I heard it went well, and your Dad read an anonymous letter

That was written by my brother.

 

Logan, your story was in this week’s newspaper

It pained me to read about how your dream

Was to help cancer patients

But then you got diagnosed, your hair useless

It pained me to read, you were fighting hard

Against cancer for twelve months before it took you away.

 

You may have only been sixteen

But Logan believe me when I say,

You touched many, you changed many lives

As you held their hand to comfort them

Logan, how can we ever call you selfish

When your last words were, "Will you be OK?"

You were greatly loved, Logan, I hope you know that

You will never be forgotten.

 

Logan dear, you've spread your wings

Soaring high into the heavens above

Logan dear, oh how I miss seeing your face

Thank-you for smiling at me that day

And Logan dear, I know we're strangers

But you were inspirational;

A person who we could look up to.

 

Sorry that I never stood up for you

Back when we were twelve

If I knew what you were standing for

I would have been by your side

I say this a lot, but thank-you for that smile

I'm sorry I never got the chance to tell you face-to-face

But maybe one day we'll cross paths again

And I can tell you how I feel.

 

You left footprints in the sand

And all we can do is be amazed

As you continue to change our lives

Because you were always smiling, always caring for others

Logan, you may have only lived sixteen years

But you stated that you were happy to go

As you lived a great life, dreams fulfilled

I can't seem to grasp those last words you spoke,

"Will you be OK?"

 

But Logan, you have been set free

I hope to see you some day

So I can tell you face-to-face

That I really am thankful for that one smile

Even though we remained complete strangers

Logan, you were a son, a brother, a great friend

Your soul lives on, memories in our hearts

You will never be forgotten.

 

 

MetBySunlight.

 

 

Reviews

[Annie]

This is amazing Ana, a true tribute to Logan. He sounds like a truly amazing and inspirational person. You've really done him justice in this poem; I wish I could have known him...

[Jack Isaac]

somewhere deep in your heart you must know that you could not be a stranger to him because of this poem. Time is a funny thing that might make you wonder, it makes me wonder, if that smile so long ago was a thank you for not having been a stranger to him. I think this is a very beautiful tribute you have made here :) nice work!

[Coyote Poetry]

A good story. Life is funny. If we knew all the facts. We would be wise and always be kind to other people. I like how you told the story and the ending. I learn a long time ago. Negative words and thoughts are not good for another person and in the end. Eat away at your soul. Thank you for the outstanding story with a lesson.
Coyote

[paparapapa]

To be honest, while I read the poem, the length didn't really bother me. I just wanted to read more and more to know more about this awesome guy you are talking about. This one was really heartbreaking and captivating. I would have wanted to be his friend too if I were given a chance. It felt like we've lost a very great man. So sad. :'( May his soul rest in peace.