Did Not ©1994 Richard Chu
(1998 revision)

Did not,
Though I felt like,
Ask ‘em:
Are you okay?

Did not
Though I felt like,
Say to ‘em:
That’s okay.
It’s just so hard
To watch someone you loved so dearly
Passing away,
Far beyond your dismay.

Did not I cry
Only turned my face away
To avoid their tearful eyes.
I can’t even begin to imagine
What a hurtful thing it can be
Seeing such a wonderful baby
Once so full of love and life
Now is closing up her dimmed eyes
Slipping away.
To the other side
As some said.

Did not I ask why
Such a foolish tragedy should ever happen
To such a young thing
Only aged two.

Did not I hum along when
the prayer’s sung and
The curtain’s hung.
Among their sobbing sighs
Her hands move, only an inch, then
Cease.
She goes.
At ease.
Eyes close.

Did not she know
It’s AIDS that put out
Her new-born life-glow
So untimely and irrationally.
An eternal time-out.
Too soon.