The news sorts conjectures from the fact
of all we can understand of their life
surprise decline into blessed relief.
Until now the past was their rare complex
of contradictions and fair certainties
we lived with in trial preparation for
our next meeting, outing, contretemps
that now will transmute into storylines
refined, embroidered to ease our minds
and cause us loss, reflective amusement.
Now the future is the sum and limit
of all we can understand in this life
not requiring further readiness,
practising the right lines as they approach.
