... who died April 1, 2000.
Slender vixen,
Conservative slut with a
Beautiful cackle
I miss your jokes
and the sounds of
our laughters and tongues
mingling together.
Arms raised high
dancing
to Aretha Franklin's
Deeper Love
when I told you to just
stop it with the poppers already!
And just moments later,
where's Gordon now?
Making out with some stranger
in the corner.
I remember once standing at
the Odyssey
my back to the wall
when you
came up and just kissed me.
Just slipped your tongue in my mouth.
and 'Pervert.' I said.
but I remember it happily.
I remember the night
when you told us that
you tested positive.
And it's weird how that sounds like a good thing
until it clicks in what that means.
It was Valentine's Day
but you'd known since Christmas.
And the four of us shairng
one brain
collapsed in one heap
of drink, smoke,
and tears.
And I remember visiting you at the hospital
though it's not how I like to
remember you.
We snuck you in a giant
Starbucks coffee
half full of Bailey's Irish Cream.
And it'd be a better memory
if I could picture you weighing
more than 80 pounds.
But beneath all the weight loss
the lesions and tubes
and the paper pajamas
I was always amazed at how
you kept your
dignity intact
all the way.
While we, on the other hand
were a bloody mess.
But you went through it all
with decorum and pride.
And I'll always remember you
in happier days,
dancing
arms raised high
to Aretha Franklin's
Deeper Love
and making out with some stranger
in the corner.
Daring, Divine, and Decadent,
my friend.
I send you Deep Love.