For My Friend (2007)

Last night I got a call
a voice from my past
rang in my ears
like the sweet clink of cocktail flutes
at a party

so near to my heart
so dear
and so far away now

his timbre so frail and frustrated
disappointed with life
questioning and confused and isolated
angry with the ridiculousness
of this counterclockwise society

a soul so big and beautiful
nearly snuffed the week before
and now trying to recover
in the aftermath of
a single selfish motive

what a great disservice to this world -
my world -
if he left it
with no goodbyes
no book collection or explanation
and only a torrent of tears
and regret in his wake

but, then, I, too,
am selfish
for his life elevates my own
and I want him in it

he challenged me
to duels of debate
binges of banter
feasts of philosophical suppositions
waking the weary wolves
of my seeker's intellect
exciting me from complacency
where often I reside
in dull repose

the spark of life grew stronger
with our converse
relationships, religion, and politics
talk of people, places, things
a universe of language
that only he and I
could speak so fluently

four fluid hours
of cross-continental connection
built a bridge
across our loneliness
four fluid hours
licking gingerly his wound

and then the sign off
with a promise
to resume again soon