cursing time zones
i regretted missing you,
the conversations

it's been a while now,
since echoes of long distance
voiced opinions to me

things never were bad,
were they

that we can't remember the good
or perhaps
they were never so good

it occurred to me,
you were upstream,
trying to find clear passage
between shit you, yourself made

there is not a point
to drown now-
after the fighting,
after the tremendous valor,
courage and obstinacy
you showed

the wry smile
as you watched me,
pen in hand,
cigarette in my mouth,
trying to be
Bukowski, Pound
Hemingway?

there is no glory more than that
is there?

it's why i want you
to write yourself in words,
get it down on paper,
doing what needs doing

in your shrinking world,
in your choice of small lives

write your words with

nothing to catch you
if you fall