What is true and what is not?

A sad poem. A friend died. Needed words to keep his face alive.

                             What is true and what is not

I told my dear sister. Somethings we will not understand.
You can't live for the dead. You must live for the living.

Men will fall. Lose themselves. Many reason for failure and sadness.
After you cross a path. Hard to return to the hope of youth and sweet dreams.

Easy to play Russian roulette with life. Woman, booze and drugs.
Many ways to reach a dead-end.

A friend had left. Left us with no words. Just words spoken and life lived.
He would tell us. I'm okay brother. I found my peace. I finish my journey.
I'm with God now.

Today children are with us. We must go on. Dear Scott would say. His honest and direct nature.

You can't live for the dead. You must live for the living.

I pray for peace and calm for a man who knew little. I hope and pray he found peace.

                             Coyote/John Castellenas

Author's Note

Thank you for reading. I do appreciate.

Reviews

[Irenic]

a poem in which sadness and how much you are heart broken on your friend's death could be felt. that first line of the poem i.e

You can't live for the dead. You must live for the living.
it makes me feel that how much we to live with memories of died friend in the end we have to come back in this rapidly running-towards-ease world. Otherwise defeat will stand beside us.

I like those lines too :

Easy to play Russian roulette with life. Woman, booze and drugs.
Many ways to reach a dead-end.

you are expert in writing emotions. i like it.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Irenic. I appreciate the kind words.

[Sadashivan Nair]

Life sometimes sad but to overcome
"You can't live for the dead. You must live for the living"
Not sad but inspire to have courage for life

Thanks a lot

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and the comment. Every person must make a decision one day. The body and spirit can get tire.

[Ken Simm.]

I don't think you can say more John. In fact I think you said it all and with an honest beauty.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Ken. I appreciate the comment.

[Sophy Freebirds]

I am so sorry for your loss dear friend..But life goes on as it never ends...People come and go and as you rightly explain many reach the dead end before being dead. So yes we need to live on for the living.. i really liked that phrase...... Recently i have also suffered many loses your poem inspired me :-) *god bless you*

~Sophy

[Coyote Poetry]

I was with my sister. She took the blame. I told her. We decide our journey. Thank you Sophy for reading and the comment.

[armin]

yes, living for dead is not what life is. Life is a journey sometimes might be sweat and other times might be bitter and sour. Keep walking with pace and mindful is what life is called. Someone said life is a challenge a game, not to lose.
Sorry for your sisters ex husband John .

armin. ...

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading. Had topic to think or write about. Had to release thoughts to paper.

[C]

"You can't live for the dead. You must live for the living." That is such a touching line in the way that no matter what, the Earth keeps turning and life goes on. Beautiful and inspiring.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you. Hard knowledge to learn. We do learn sooner or later.

[Lydia Shutter]

So sorry for the loss of your friend, John. I know how difficult it is to lose a good friend. Your attitude is right though. He is at peace now. He lived live as he wanted and if that included woman, booze, and drugs, that was his choice. May you be strong enough to move past the sadness. Honest emotion expressed well here. Lydi**

[Coyote Poetry]

Was my sister ex-husband. He always struggled. Sad way to die. Alone. Thank you Lydia for reading and the kind words.

[Zahra]

You can't live for the dead. You must live for the
living.

that is true, but somehow we live for the dead too, when we cherish their dreams, celebrate what they were and the gifts they left for us.
Sorry about your loss. A touching write.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you. Good to remember our departed friend and family. We need to ensure we appreciate the living.

[Zahra]

Indeed. :)