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Distance Kills

Distance kills.
It’s always true.
In time and space,
In all we do.

Those on our team,
Who leave the sport.
Those at our work
Who find new port.

The friends we make
Who move away.
The school we loved—
Though we did say…

“Let’s keep in touch”
“I’ll drop a line,”
“We’ll visit soon.”
Intentions fine.

But life will pull
Us towards Today
To work right Here,
To friends who Stay.

Events will fade
And heroes, too.
Front page news
Is next day through.

We miss those friends
Now gone away.
We miss days past—
What more to say?

Ours is a life
Of gain and loss,
When times are good
Or tempest-tossed.

One sun will rise
The last I’ll see,
And then I’m gone.
Remember me…

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Michael Charles Maibach began writing poems at age nine.  Since then he has continued writing poems, and sharing them with friends.  His career has involved global business diplomacy.  He is a native of Peoria, Illinois.  Today Michael resides in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.  More of his poems are found at www.MaibachPoems.us or on Facebook.

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15 Responses

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson

    This also could have been titled, “Remember Me.” I get the time and space continuum from your title and poem. As you said, “Ours is a life of gain and loss.”

    Reply
    • MICHAEL CHARLES MAIBACH

      Hi Roy. I wrote this poem because a friend of mine remarked that “distance kills”. So, I like that title. Plus, the “remember me” is unexpected – especially by me when writing this! Michael

      Reply
  2. Gigi Ryan

    Michael,
    Your choice of iambic dimeter is fitting for your poem about how short relationships can be in the scheme of life, in spite of good intentions. I enjoyed your reminder. We all hope to be remembered, don’t we?
    Gigi

    Reply
  3. Pedro

    I do agree with the feeling. It is also a very Brazilian thing to do. We here say much ‘let us schedule something’. And then we just don’t.

    Reply
  4. Margaret Coats

    All very true, Michael Charles. The “memento” of the final stanza is unexpected, and has me remembering many who have passed out of my life through little fault of our own. That’s one message with which is a true pleasure to carry out.

    Reply
    • MICHAEL CHARLES MAIBACH

      Thanks, Margaret, for your note. I write all my poems in just a few minutes. A friend said “distance kills” in a conversation and I wrote this. I was surprised by the “remember me” at the end. I never think when I write, the words just come…

      Reply
  5. Rohini

    Michael Charles, your poem touched me, The clipped rhythm underscores the rapidity with which (despite promises) we allow distance to kill relationships. The last line really caught me. I hope some folk are never forgotten

    Reply
  6. Shamik Banerjee

    Amid the clamour and race of life, many relationships often get compromised for other things, which is a sad truth. And when the race ends and one reaches his grey-haired days, those old beautiful memories start flooding his mind, and not to mention, a sense of deep regret haunts him. Michael, your poem is artful in its description of this reality. I hope the youth of today learn to slow down, cherish their relationships, whether old or new, and make a place in the hearts of every person they know. Thanks for this poem.

    Reply
  7. Cheryl A Corey

    You always write such great dimeter. The subject matter is on point as well.

    Reply
  8. Paul A. Freeman

    Full of thoughtful examples of how distance dulls relationships, and then a stunning last stanza that was so simple, yet so evocative.

    Thanks for the read, Michael.

    Reply

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