A man died quietly the other day.

No news coverage.  No dramatic scenes.
No church service either.

No friends of friends filing by,giving their shallow condolences to the immediate family.
And what of the family?
How many of them knew this man?
Who of them had heard his laughter?
Or seen him smile at the sunset?

A man died quietly the other day.
This man was kind and gentle.
He was not one to raise his voice in anger or lash out at those around him.
Even in his final days, he made light of his situation.
Joking, teasing, while in pain.  He put the needs ofothers  before his own needs.

A man died quietly the other day.
I miss him.  I know that his pain now is gone.
The good times are gone too.  In time, I will adjust.
Life continues, it will never be the same though.

A man died quietly the other day.
His death is surrounded by whispers and nods.
People, who are family by name only, speculate.
"Is THAT what it was?" "No wonder, with THAT kind of life-style, it's to be expected."

A man died quietly the other day.
Does it matter how or from what?

A man died quietly the other day.
The end result is the same.