then.
i was entirely
too young
to have
a sense of humor
back
then.
i have pictures
to prove
my humorlessness
and too many witnesses
to count.
then.
between a boy and a man
paying for movies
in hand fulls
of change.
then.
the passage
the trial
the fight
the rage
exploding and
unexplained.
then.
i survived
somehow
luck
pure luck
without
allowing myself
a moment
of forgiveness
or laughter.
then.
but now
all i do is laugh
and forgive
you and me
from this old desk
into eternity.
then.
finally
when it comes
for me
now
fearless
dancing
with the fire
until my
end.
-Philadelphia, 2/09
