Over 20 Years Gone

Alternatively “The Brawny Son”

Over 20 years gone, Nothing forsaken, nothing forgone.

Over 20 years gone, Highland Heart’s brawny Son.

Over 20 years gone, Street-hockey games, snow-forts, skating on frozen ponds.

Over 20 years gone, Riding our bikes, Kell’s Pit, over-streets, boyhood fun.

Over 20 years gone, The boys, the memories, those radio songs.

Over 20 years gone, Backyard football, stick-ball, out there on the lawns.

Over 20 years gone, The fun we had, I could never take a pass on.

Over 20 years gone, The strong one, the kid, you know the boy with the brawn.

Over 20 years gone, Boys grow up, loosening those bonds.

Over 20 years gone, Coming of age, a natural phenomenon.

Over 20 years gone, Today I heard the news, you couldn’t carry on.

Over 20 years gone, Today I heard the news, I couldn’t press on.

Over 20 years gone, When things turned dark, you had nobody to lean on.

Over 20 years gone, Some wicked acts, can’t be undone.

Over 20 years gone, Not ever knowing, what really went wrong.

Over 20 years gone, Wish I could have helped, at least checked up on.

Over 20 years gone, Some battles lost, some battles won.

Over 20 years gone, Hope you found peace my friend, a place to rest upon.

Over 20 years gone, Ache in the heart, got to keep on.

Over 20 years gone, In the name of the Highland Ghost, the Heavenly Father, and the brawny Son.

In memory of my boyhood friend Brian Keith MacIsaac — June 24, 1973, to November 9, 2020. Rest In Peace.

Jeff Langley 2020

Thank you to the team at Illumination for giving these words residence in this publication.