(Wrote this a few days before you birthday last year, thinking of you then and thinking of you know buddy XxxXxxX) In Absentia Just because we cannot see you Doesn't mean we have not in our minds eye Just because we cannot hear you Doesn't do not where memories lie Just because we cannot speak to you Doesn't mean all hopes of fresh conversation die Just because you are alone Doesn't mean you shouldn't ever come home Your friends are waiting and we mean you no harm There is no reason to feel fear, anger, or alarm We wait to see our friend again with open arms, and open hearts to boot For we know you've been through hell From your head down to your foot And in you you've lost all sense of calm You swam with demons at the funny farm He was a comrade whom I had; there are no better. He remains in my mind, and the enemy will never be forgiven. The "enemy" was his mistake in playing. Let him play again, in some other way, and let him be happy. To my dear lost and alone friend Benjamin James Arabin dogged by dark shapes, silhottes, and phantoms never there. Happ Birhday comrade, with love and affection. 19/01/14