Novem Solus

novem solus

one
to nine,
nine to one,
one by one,
they came
alone,
one by one,
they go
alone,
till only one,
is left,
alone.

why
was one
the
first,
another
last,
one, two
three
four five
six,
seven eight
and
nine?

who
set the line,
who
called the roll,
who
picked the time,
for
one
to
nine
to come,
alone?

who
chose the day
for each
to leave,
who chose
the time,
the place,
for each
to go,
and
knows
the order
of goodbyes?

who
will hold,
each
and every
one
left behind,
the eyes that
cry,
the hearts that
break,
the souls that
sigh?

and
who,
will stand
with the
last,
alone,
and
at the end
alone,
to say the
last
goodbye?