On a Stormy Night

I haven’t met this friend of my childhood For a long time for he lived in another city, So I called him some time back, if he would Visit me once, if he didn’t it would be a pity. He said he would plan the trip, come soon Would talk of nostalgic times in my place, How we drenched in the first rains at noon How hard we struggled to win the rat race. Some months later on a dark night in spring When the thunder rattled the window panes, Nobody would go out, I heard the doorbell ring I saw a man standing by the window in rains. In the flashes of sudden lightning I could see The fluid face of my friend, flooded and smiling Drenched, he looked happy, as we used to be, On the waves of wind he seemed to be sailing. He came hurriedly inside, wiped his face dry I saw a deep scar running across his forehead, I wanted to find out the reason but didn’t try, We talked our past until the night was dead. He had to catch a flight, left before the sunrise Truly I didn’t believe him but had to let him go, I called his wife then, expressed my surprise She said in a car crash he died two months ago. October 24, 2017.