Home » Poems » Caren Krutsinger » He Was Forever Young

He Was Forever Young

He was forever young. Forever doing silly stuff. Forever getting lit. Forever drinking himself to death. He was thirty-seven, but forever five. Best things they could think to say. Everyone smiling and laughing Talking about what a cut-up he was. Never kept a wife or a child. Never kept a job. Kept his parents worried and up all night. What a cut-up! A great guy. Forever five. Minister struggling To think of something nice to say About a man who never Helped anyone Never made a friend Never held a job Never did anything but play. Forever five at thirty-seven. Eulogy.

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M. L. Kiser

Date: 11/6/2018 11:14:00 AM

Never experienced life, as the rest of us know it. Poor guy; oh well, At least something was said.

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 11/6/2018 11:14:00 AM

Yes, sometimes I attend a service and I am flabbergasted at what is said by what is unsaid.

Paul Bell

Date: 11/4/2018 6:16:00 AM

I suppose that is the epitaph. Forever Five. There's always a story hidden. It's just finding it.

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 11/4/2018 7:25:00 AM

Yes, Paul, there is always. I was talking to a good friend whose brother recently committed suicide. She said, "He was forever five," although he was in his 50's. It stuck with me. The term, not the circumstances. This is not about him,but I loved the term "forever five".

Rhona Mcferran

Date: 11/3/2018 1:30:00 PM

Deep poem... I like what one of the other commenters said about people "writing their own eulogies"... I think this poem bears that out. Nice work! ;)

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 11/3/2018 7:02:00 PM

I want people to think after they have wasted a day or two on pure selfishness because it does not make their heart happy anyway.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 11/3/2018 7:44:00 AM

Oh what a sad eulogy! So sad never to see there’s more to life. Looking to fill life with fun and games and never finding the depth of living! Great!

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 11/3/2018 7:02:00 PM

Thank you Kim. It came easily. Believe me!

Robert Trezise Jr.

Date: 11/3/2018 4:22:00 AM

This resonates with me. Nicely thought out and written Caren. Especially your comment about how the parents can't sleep at night. So true. Bob

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 11/3/2018 7:03:00 PM

Thank you Bob. I see you have met some who need more than a gentle hint.

Wren Rushing

Date: 11/3/2018 4:21:00 AM

My father who had preached many funerals, would say you write your own eulogy.

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 11/3/2018 7:04:00 PM

Wren, this is SAGE, for it is the absolute TRUTH!

Sand Blown

Date: 11/3/2018 4:01:00 AM

there are 'five' year olds who have worked responsibly all their long lives (said, not to correct but to add a difference)

Caren Krutsinger
Date: 11/3/2018 7:06:00 PM

Yes, there are, but not this one, Sandblown. I tend to try to never GENERALIZE people.