Left for the Living

“There are worse things than being alone,” Mother said.
“But alone is still bad,” Stuart added.
Stu couldn’t see much of a future ahead
like the one his far luckier dad did.
Now the minutes or hours or days that remain
(or the weeks, months or years should I have some)
will the memories of my son Stuart sustain
be they sweet, sad, amusing or humdrum.
Some pictures caught glimpses now frozen in time
that, as long as I have them, I’ll cherish
(of his life as it was and his sweet smile sublime)
until Death comes for me and I perish.
Mother said, “Life’s too short.” Stu would surely agree.
Now their “living” is left — for the moment — to me.