a man died.
a man I never met
though heard about through the family vine.

their love song, something from a dime store novel,
but true.

true love, love at first sight, love that changes things
and they were devoted for five years.
she, his great love

and now he is dead
of a sudden illness
or maybe an old deep sickness that he would have rather
kept hidden
for a decade or two longer.

I am sad for them both
but glad to know their love story
burning bright in the retelling,
enough, I hope,
to keep her warm.