They're Gone

My parents' friends who filled the house with a glow, jokes, songs
are all dead now.

Their laughter can be brought back
instantly through stories.

My parents had a bachelorette friend who used to say,
jokingly, at least she thought,
that when my mother dies she'd steal my father and marry him.

She died last year.

They had a bachelor friend
with a sense of humor and a knack for pranks and fun

He would say before his guests were out of earshot,
Thank God they're gone
then laugh with the remaining guests

One night, someone brought a friend
who wasn't in on the joke.

She left in a huff and never returned
It was her loss!

Fifty or more years have passed since Jim died

We still often say Thank God they're gone
and laugh