My youth and virility
  left behind

The future-past
  now so unkind

All laughter dormant,
  children gone

The days too short,
  the nights too long

But words stay with me
  always will

Through light and dark
  inscription fills

If meaning suffers
  intents the same

New flowers distant
  old fragrance claimed

But memories call
  then call again

And often stay
  my dearest friends

The white smoke rises
  but just a whiff

These words as given
—my greatest gift

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2018)