I’ve always felt it’s a copout
To say there just aren’t words-
The words are never too far away,
But don’t they take their sweet time
Coming home.
If words could talk they’d often say-
Don’t wait up.
I’d like to think I have many friends in words,
But then I remember every time shit went down,
And poof! they skipped town.
I wonder where they are now,
Since my friend,
(insert here your beautiful name)...
I knew him well enough to know
There just aren’t words right now.
He just-
Killed himself.
He did- just kill himself- didn’t he.
Quietly excused himself from this life,
Committed to his side of paradise.
Keep repeating any set of words-
Eventually they’ll mean nothing.
I can’t say, of all the brilliant minds I’ve met,
Any words to do justice to his.
Because my words, whenever they decide to come around,
Will only layer so much saccharine frosting
On the fun fact that he just knew
Everything there was to know about everything.
I can say, I had, a friend
Who was on Jeopardy,
Who always managed to make me realize
How little I knew about everything,
And make me smile the whole time.
What more could you ask for?
Goddamit, you fucking brilliant coward son of a bitch.
I’m writing a poem about the fallacy of words
Instead of talking with you.
Because I knew you drank,
I knew you raged and resigned so many nights.
But didn’t I have my head further up my ass
The more I knew you were suffering.
I could never remember a friend
Getting me thrown out of a club in Prague,
Wandering with me through snow-covered Krakow
Searching for Schindler’s factory-
None of it- with more endearment now.
But, right now, I don’t care to remember
Any such endearing moments.
Because you took off and all the good words followed.
So to you, my dear friend, with all my love and regrets-
Here’s a drink, rage, and resignation,
Should you want it that way.