The sounds of your voices
work with me,
the resonance of your mirth,
your anger, your vexation,
your empathy, your soul,
is orchestral in our everyday scrum
to keep me humming along

The two ol' pals are facing each other.

He passes a glass of poison
to his dear guest, leaning
near the front door, slightly opened;
and he's learning the reason—

why he's standing there,
about to storm out of the stone-cold apartment—
'bout to burst in tears
shedding the vivid droplets

that shouldn't be belonging to a mere ghost.
Yet he's fleeting, escaping the scene still,
while the owner of the kitchenette
is putting back the bottle

    to where it belonged;
    and he's gone, present no longer.

The drink on the rock—left on the shelf—
is evaporating, following the vaporized guest,
leaving the scent of faint alcohol
that lulls the other friend to regretful sleep.

It's weird how we met,
You were just a freshman
While I was just a sophomore
I was the king of the block
While you were trying to find a way to come up

Rarely ever spoke
You were really just ignored
Really never thought you would be the first
To approach this bitter guy
Who thought he knew the ropes
But you took that leap and talked to me first
You then became like a sibling to me

Now I talk to you about my life
From my first memory to my most painful memory
You just listen but I know you learn
You learn that this guy you call your best friend
Is a guy that likes to live life till it hurts

You have been there in the best and the worst of times
You have been there when I need a person to talk to
You have been there when no one else would be

I thank you and I commend you for all that you've done
You know I'll have your back till the day you are gone

My newest buddy
baby goat Vortex
climbs my leg and
wants to be scratched

His brother Hope
bewildered
is seemingly convinced
that I will eat him where he stands

I tell them often
I love you both
and if it's up to me
you will both die here
of ripe old age