Shock strikes my frame

As I gaze on your name

“Wayne Brown… dead”

I hold my head

Trying to support my frame

You’ve lost a war

I never knew you fought

Though vigorously I Guess you did

I cannot begin to imagine

You lost a fight

And lost your life

To cancer

Unknown to me

So great a man you seemed to be

Connecting, us three

You, cancer and me

So stern and serious

Couldn’t imagine a cold attacking

You

Lived quiet fearless

Taught others to do the same

Never ashamed of anything you say

You!

The cotton tree

Where many of our ghosts hide

We, exorcised

Your harsh words

Did us favour

Now some even write in Newspaper

Great Cotton Tree

Fell from inside

Because your pride

Would not allow

Anything from the outside

To cut you down

Wayne Brown

Dead!

This news is spinning my head

I know Kings die

Knights, Presidents and

Someday, even I

Not you

A robust, angry, cynical man

Cotton Tree

Thought you’d outlive me

It was not to be

But I am yet to understand!