Dust to Dust

How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live. - Thoreau

in the not so wee hours of tuesday morning

three doors down

he passed away in his room

alone

i know exactly when

i was awakened suddenly with an uneasy feeling

the smell of death came to me

i sniffed its nauseating void and went back to sleep after feeling troubled for a while

he used to sit in the dirt

in the big flower pot out front

angry at life

drinking hopelessness

"why?", he would demand in his indignant tone, "why?"

a little while ago, as i was entering the building

i couldn't help but look at the empty container

this time it was really barren and so was i

someone had placed a candle and a nip bottle in his place

their version of a snuffed out, supplicant prayer

i'll never forget our deep discussions on the sidewalk

"looks like a storm is coming", he would warn

"it's here", i would say

i'll see you again on the other side mean gene

some paved day

Author's Note

It is better to have your head in the clouds, and know where you are... than to breathe the clearer atmosphere below them, and think that you are in paradise. - Thoreau