For my close and dear friend Jeff


The years slip by so fast.
It feels like they've been stolen from us.

Can it actually be numbered
In terms of decades?
When we first met
And became acquainted sharing
A round can of rich tobacco.

Every day after that
We rode around everywhere together
In your old car
Listening to music, telling exaggerated stories.
We shared our deepest hurts and fears.
With compassion and respect
We both shared and listened.

Or sometimes we would just talk about
A pretty girl we saw in school that day.
And then, maybe, go a little deeper
And share our hopes and dreams of
A beautiful future with an optimism that
Only two kids could have.

We can't deny it, my friend Jeff.
We had joy and we had fun.
Did we actually complain from time to time
That our college years were an ordeal.

And then you graduate.
And I drop out of school.
And I forget to call you.
And you forget to write.
That's where the blank spaces come in.
The blank spaces that are called years.

And now you are gone. A harsh truth.
I must be gentle with myself these days.
Grace slowly allows me to accept the truth.

Did I ever tell you how proud I am of you.
That you graduated.
Did I ever tell you what your brotherly love
Meant to me.

Those blank spaces have ended.
Your memory is everyday now

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