Ode to Richard

I was saddened to hear he passed away
He was friendly but not a friend
A neighbor I saw in the hall or at the local store
He liked sports and fussed about the President
But mostly kept himself to himself
Except when he complained about our deaf neighbor
Who played the radio and television loud at all hours

I had seen him regularly for a long time
But I hadn’t seen him much in recent months
I saw him for the last time in July
He didn’t say much but looked fine
When I returned from vacation I found out he had died
He died alone and laid a week before found faced down
A neighbor said there was a horrible stench

It hit home in more ways than one
He was only a year older than my dad and died alone
Goodbye Richard you will be missed