(Inspired by a translation of Catullus’s famous funeral poem known as “Hail and Farewell”)
when I heard
my heart dropped, through the floor
I flew through airports, never seeing doors
hot tears swept visions from my head
our shared Decembers
not a shred left
visions from my head fled
when I arrived
to see your body stretched abed
I cried my final words, as well unsaid
for all the ears you've left for hearing
too‐late pleas for one last shred
of brother's pranks and drunken phone calls,
retorts of sound advice
brothers' love
visions in your head
echoes of my sound advice
calling twice
I love you, bro
I love you, too
a brother's love
and sound advice
calling twice
I love you, man
I love you, too
a brother's love
echoes of sound advice
our lives
they somehow came apart
untwined from days of bunk beds
game controllers
sets of Legos
Nerf Gun wars, broken vases
Texas Hold 'Em table, cards and chips
matching Spring Break surfboards
push‐ups
foreign trips
apart, yet brothers
shared excitement
fading quickly
frozen memories
one toboggan sled,
one ride, two grown-up men
sopping wet
from flooded brother's eyes
a brand‐new suit
a tie
a shirt you'd never buy
they've dressed you for your trip
to where, I cannot guess
I'll find out soon enough
tomorrow
soon enough
who cares!
we shared Decembers!
listening
to my echoed calls
our highs and lows
"What's up?"
"Take care, bro!"
we still say,
"See you later..."
"next year's wedding..."
"family funeral..."
"birthday party..."
shared Decembers
