A POEM FOR PAUL

ON A MAY SUMMER NIGHT...

ONLY ONE YEAR AGO,

I SHAVED OFF MY HAIR...

AND I LET THE TEARS FLOW,

I DRESSED IN BLACK SILK...

AND I DARKENED MY EYES,

AND I SMILED AT THE REACTIONS OF FEAR AND SURPRISE.

I REMEMBER IT WELL...

THE CRUCIFIX TATTOO,

AND THE HURTING INSIDE MORE THAN ANYONE KNEW,

MY LONELY REBELLION WAS CRUMBLING SO FAST,

AND IT SEEMED THAT THE HURTING WAS ALL THAT WOULD LAST.

BUT THE HURTING WOULD FADE...

AS MUCH AS IT COULD,

AND THE TEARS WOULD DRY...

AS ALL TEARS SHOULD,

BUT WHAT'S LASTED THROUGH ALL OF THE TEARS AND THE QUAKING,

IS OUR UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP...

ONE YEAR IN THE MAKING.

YOU...

THE REBEL WHO WOULD TRAVEL ALONE,

THE LIFE WEARY YOUTH MADE OF FLESH AND OF BONE,

THE WOULNDED CHILD;

THE MAN YOU BECAME,

AN ANGELIC DEMON THAT THE WORLD CAN'T RESTRAIN.

THE GOTHIC OBSESSION OF A VAMPIRE'S LUST,

THE MAN DRESSED IN BLACK...

THE PROTECTOR OF TRUST,

THE FRIEND WHO IS ALWAYS GIVING WITHOUT TAKING,

WITH A HEART THAT FEELS LOVE EVEN WHILE IT IS BREAKING.

YOU ARE THE ONE WHO I KNOW WILL SURVIVE,

YOU WHO ENRICH AND ENCHANT ALL OUR LIVES,

MY INSPIRED PRINCE;

THAT YOU NEVER MAY FALL,

REMEMBER I LOVE YOU:

JASON AND PAUL.

© SEPTEMBER 16TH, 1995

-FOR PAUL-

ON YOUR TWENTY-FIRST BIRTHDAY

AND FOR EVERY DAY AFTER!

LOVE ALWAYS,