I Never Knew You
You are like a shadow
In the window, the reflections
Getting in the way
You are the neighbor mowing your yard
The scent of grass trailing you
Behind your unsteady gait
You are that man on the bench in town
Hanging with your cronies
Heads bent to shelter what you say
You are fighting for your life
Cells in revolt course through you
Engaged in unruly play
You were the decent man next door
I never tried to get to know
And now you’ve died only steps away
Shelley Smithson is a psychotherapist living and working in northern MI. She studied at Earlham College in Indiana and Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI. In her free time she loves to spend time with family and friends, write, do political volunteer work and roam beaches in Michigan.