Poem For Lanford

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Mostly I inhabit a state of dust

I don't desire much

I get by on one mangy brassiere

Time and Time again I have faced stupid and relentless death, poverty, misfortune

Got my guts tied in a knot

Shrugged and gone on

Mostly I walk a funny line

I have all the sick and sweet human feelings

But they always wash out

Even at high tide I can look down at my watch and say

"By 3 o'clock all of this will be out at sea"

But today I have earned my human feeling badge

Today my friend is dying and there is no comfortable space

No place to hide in side my own head

No voice of reason

No calm assurance that low tide will come again

Only the sound of waves crashing on the rocks

And screams wearing them down