Death of a high school friend.He died in 1988...age:17. |
For Mark Edward Palatini (A high school friend) ________________________________________ Careless and young are often one , and we were, At the 'Hut ; I stomped pizza under our table, and Mark laughed, his asthmatic laugh, his ass off at that. We didn't always have a car ; we went by "shoe-line express." The three of us, catching movies, wolfing down pizza , afterwards. (one time, at no expense....) All of us drinking (underage!) together. A while later, one of us, sick, wishing we hadn't. But having good times, And thinking, they were going to last forever. * * * I got the news On a morning before school. My breath and my spirit flew from me;somersaulted, disappeared. CAR / TRAIN COLLISION. Not a chance. Not a chance. At the viewing, came the time, to walk up, and pay respects. My legs lost all will, and I dropped ; 'strength-less shadow,' down into a chair. Tears fighting for my eyes a useless whisper : "I just can't, I just can't....." Somber version of "This Land is Your Land", Springsteen,you liked his music, drifted away on late winter air. And we said goodbye to you and all the good times ; Painfully,growing up, losing innocence, facing death, becoming men. Mark. (July 22, 1971-February 25, 1988) |