here are two poems I wrote many years ago that I thought appropriate as we are all sitting around today thinking of all the memories of those who are no longer with us and the effects they had on our lives,
the first was written in November of 2004 after seeing a news story on the cbs evening news about one of the casualties of the war,
obituary of one for the many,
you know he was only twenty-four, just twenty four and it makes you wonder what he was doing over there, you heard he played high school football, linebacker, you heard he liked playing pranks and helping people, you heard he graduated from college, you heard, he has a son so it makes you crazy, just twenty-four, over there, and all you heard,
so it makes you wonder, what else was there to hear, who was his first kiss, his last, who his family is, and if all you heard made you crazy, just how crazy they must feel, it makes you wonder what he liked to do on a lazy saturday afternoon with his friends, on a date with his wife,
you have only yourself to ask what he thought about when he looked at the stars, what did he see, what did he believe, what did he dream,
you can only try to hold back the tears when it makes you wonder what he would have named his son, what he would have looked like holding him, smiling, proud, a father for the first time, the last time, and once again it makes you wonder, just twenty-four and what was he doing over there
the second poem I wrote about the two people who had the most profound influence on my life and taught me more about what love really means, my grandparents,
1609 pelham b
(the touch of louis and pearl)
across my cheek, warm and soothing
the memory of my grandparents
a kindness eternally
louis was right, where was my respect
i remember years later he taught me
(he once gave me a hug so strong i knew i was alive, thanks)
pearl was light, seeing my soul
with love she knew i was blessed
(she once gave me a kiss so soft i knew i was alive, thanks)
across my cheek, quaintly amusing
the wonder of my grandparents
gives me breath
and maybe, today, in honor for all those we have known and loved, lets stand united this fall and kick Donald's butt and his down ticket cohorts, otherwise we are no different than them, a bunch of malcontents,