A Long Distance Call / 이한중 

Yesterday was a bright sunny day 

in early summer of Michigan.

The woods in the backyard was dark and thick

once again packed with thick greens

under the old, old, giant trees

breathing out fresh air

soothing my tired eyes after a restless night.

A long distance call.

Suddenly my whole body feels the six sense,

an omen,

Before the caller was saying it,

I knew I had lost my buddy, my dearest friend,

who had checked into the hospital recently.

He had survived stomach cancer surgery 24 years ago,

Yet died of recurrent or new adenocarcinoma.

He said to his family, " I have no regrets in my life.....

..... Do not inform any one of my friends until I pass away."

He didn't want to impose on his old friends coming long distances

visiting him in the hospital.

Then he died under Hospice Care while being surrounded by

wife, children and grandchildren.

Five days after the funeral 

I learned the news 

from the long distance call.

This was the saddest news for me.

This was the way my life time, dearest friend left me.