Venerate opinions influenced by,
A great weight of truth.
Caution of these ideas of mine,
Venerated by youth.

A mind reflecting virtues past
Not fit for now where they won’t last
To last assumes existence is
He who assumes negates all this:

You are
the enemy
of reading.
I thought you
were a cataract.
Get out of my eyes,
and please let me see!

They've gathered at his daughter's house,
I passed cars pulling to the curb;
The patriarch has been replaced,
His chair now sits usurped.

Will someone raise a glass to toast him,
Recount some craic to roast him?
Praise his assets,
Shush his regrets,
Strum his unplayed guitar.

They'll share feasts on his bench,
Conceive on handmade beds,
Take down a book from his many shelves,
And talk as though he's there,
Sleeping, unaware.

     What was it that he said?
     He talked of love a lot.
     Did he get it right?
     He shared what he got.
     Did well for a sot.
     He could turn a *****,
     Write a verse,
     Right a wrong,
     Could dialogue with who knows what,
     And if he couldn't fix it,
     We knew we were *******.

They just might go to sleep tonight,
And dream as though he's there,
Still sitting in his chair.

The roses that he gave me are now wilted and dead.
Like the memories of how we used to be together.
The words that he spoke of, I love you is what he said.
He promised me he would be here till the end, forever.

Farewell my angel, a kiss goodbye, went on his way.
He lay in bed that night and thought of what he would do.
That was the last time she saw him, it still hurts this day.
Walls tainted with blood, the reason not even a clue.

Dressed in black, a pale white face; tears streaming like a river.
This is my fault, repeating in her head, the words true.
She speaks her words and looks her last, she tries not to quiver.
The images in her head swirling around like new.

I lost a friend that night, I miss him too much to say.
I love him, he stole my heart, one day I’ll be okay.


Dedicated to Drew