I Think Of You My Friend

You would have been 34 years old, Alvaro

if not for that motorcycle accident

that turned your body cold.

I guess nobody knows until they know

how fragile life can be.

Or how in the blink of an eye

someone so kind, could be taken from us all.

Because at the ripe age of 27,

we don’t think in terms of death.

We think in terms of life.

We think in terms of speed.

And all the nights we passed the time with nothing else to do,

but laugh until our eyes grew wide with nothing much to prove.

And how you must have known, it meant so much to me.

Just know it’s with a heavy heart, I think of you my friend.

And from this chair of memories, I’m glad to have known you then.

Halfway through the day, tired but still going.

Hugging Blake, I tell him,

you remind me how amazing people can be.

Shaking hands, he says,

“you know you’re always my first call.”

We work hard together, so

I’m honest with him, and he’s honest with me.

Wiping sweat, we share a laugh and talk about our spouses.

“I just wanted to give you guys something that would help,

not something you’d get rid of in a year or two.”

We’re halfway through the day, tired but still going.

“I’m really happy for you both,” he says, “you can use me as a reference.”

Going back to work, I understand the world a little more.

And in my tiny nook of it, I know

that nothing is forgotten.

while gazing at the lonesome desert

from the window of my soul

the land just rolls on by

and I’m surrounded by the sun

the road, and beautiful minds—

where all I can think of

while gazing at the lonesome desert

is how wonderful it’s going to be

to hold you in my arms

and know that I am home.