Enigma

Dedicated to the memory of Nex Benedict (Jan 11, 2008-Feb 8, 2024)

R.I.P. Nex

I heard you talk across the room
You spoke your personal kind of tune
You and your friend were sitting paired
But other students simply stared
They stood apart and uttered jibes
You simply weren’t part of their tribe.
The teacher saw you from the front
But was too frozen to confront
…

You looked so happy when you ate
You hugged your friend, your latest date
They said you liked to cook them wings
I didn’t see you wearing rings
The chicken tenders didn’t rate
I’ll bet that you’d have made them great
The students at your table laughed
They didn’t seem to be that daft
...

You rose and walked into the room
Your body called, you answered soon
They told you go there with the girls
Your boyish clothes, your swept back curls
I heard the shouts, the sound of scuffle
Were they trying to cause some kind of trouble?
I heard a thunk. Did you go ker-plunk?
The faculty rose, began their jump.
….

You walked out proud, I couldn’t tell
If you were hurt or not so well
They took you to the office up in front.
What did they ask? Who’d they confront?
Grandmother took you into the sun
You walked out tall, you didn’t run
I didn’t know what happened then
Would you be back tomorrow or never again?
...

You weren’t in school the following day
I hugged a friend and tried to pray
The news that night told of your death
I wondered how, I caught my breath
You were so alive with energy
Was this some deadly synergy?
I touched the floor, down on my knee
My soul awash with agony
…

We held a vigil in the park
We sang a song until the dark
We shared your loss, we felt your pain
The clouds were soft, it didn’t rain
We told about how you were brave
The things you stood for, things you gave.
I saw a bird, was it a dove?
We need to turn their hate with love.