A Friend Missed Poem by Saliha AHU

Has it been a year really?
A year of grief
You shine bright as a star
Always present in my thoughts,
A lump in my heart

Did you know what an impact you had?
My life was so intertwined with yours,
Not a day passes that I don't know you
I see you, your impact.

I want to say your name
Out loud,
I'm definitely not done mourning you
(Is anyone else?)
I'm also not done loving you.

It was some months ago
I was ready to (start) mourn you
I finally knew you were really gone.
I finally believed.

But really it seems
My mind still doesn't believe
Still sees you as
A friend far away still living,
still loving with your words and actions

I think of Muadh bin Jabal
Held tight, as if
Known that was the last
Meeting of this world
Hugged tight, tears flowing

Friends far, are missed
Friends passed are dearly missed
Just the same
Except for the moment;
that pull in the heart that reminds
Me of (relative) permanence

(Say a fatiha for my beloved friend)