Dear Linn,
What happened to the years?
It's been a while since
we sat and drank and
brought the rest of them
down-
A peg or two.

It's been a while since
We argued over the nicer details
of History class;
or defended Pokemon against
the scorn of our benighted
classmates.

I remember our shining minds
wrestling in the back of the class
while the rest looked on, unaware
of blinding urgent calls
to arms, to books-
life with brilliant azure
lay waiting for us to answer.

But nothing lasts forever
does it, Linn?
Conquests amassed-
Connections missed-
Success poked with a dirty stick
Bleeds out silver
Like a broken thermometer.

You were my constant,
did you know that?
My northern star.
I feel the shackles of loyalty still.
Isn't that something, Linn?
When you think of it
I'm bound
to you-
The embers of a dying fire.