forever young together

you think a lot
about your friend
john, who died
last year after
a ten month battle
with cancer. it
wasn't much of a
battle, really.
he was hairless
in a month from
chemo and radiation.
weak, bone thin.
but on the phone
he was who he
was. funny,
optimistic.
intelligent and
quick. you miss
him. you miss his
presence in your life.
the connection
of forty years
of phone calls,
and basketball
games, drinking,
wedding and divorces,
kids being born.
through it all, you
were there for each
other. you think
about him now.
his guitar
in his hand, his
blue fiat. his
beret, his scraggly
beard and laugh.
in your mind,
he's forever young.
you both are
forever young
together.