You always had a way with words
Man, you could ramble a story
Like Johnny Appleseed across an
entire conversation
Quips loaded like hippies into
hatchbacks
Looking for a place to crash
With eyes full of wonder
One thing you knew
The Truth is not a “What”
But a “Who”
We go back lifetimes
And then some
But never all that close
Until we shared beers on the deck
under a hot sun
And I told you of the demons in my
hatchback
How they’d written false headlines
Across the back of my neck while I
was asleep at the wheel
And you were entirely unfazed
Because you knew
The Truth is not a “What”
But a “Who”
In your last days here
I had nowhere else to go
A stranger in my own home
So I sat by your side
And held your hand as you strained
To map the constellations in the
back of your throat
Unable to find true north
Your body asleep
In the back of the boat
Unable to stir
Unable to trim the sails
While your mind
Kept sailing
Kept working
Kept vigilant watch
On the western skies
Where a gathering storm
Poured down the words
Of an old hymn
Waters to waters
Raining down your cheek
And when the tears reached your
lips
The song was released
“Oh let Thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee”
You sang out in perfect time
And let everyone in the room
Know that you were still there
And that you still knew
The Truth is not a “What”
But a “Who”
And there was nothing more to do
Except say our goodbyes
Gary,
It was good to know you
