we both have said
at various times in our lives
there were things of value
and the trick was knowing
just which things they were
and so we find
old friend
the things we leave behind
are not always what we discard
but grow instead
in our hearts
stronger than before
if that were even possible
and sight
old friend
is not always done with our eyes
the heart sees better
and years do not dim it
so as our bodies fumble
in the dark
our breath grows shorter
the arms no longer able to carry
the weight they once held
we still
old friend
remain connected
ten thousand miles
cannot break that bond
too many decades have come and gone
too many miles traveled together
up and down and across
two continents
we closed too many restaurants
watched fireworks over two oceans
driven or rode or flown
over too much territory
climbed a glacier
stood on mountains
seen our share of whales
there have been too many crabs eaten
too much wine drunk
too many glasses of brandy shared
and so much trouble
we talked our way into
and out of
over these many, many years
Bill Mohr once said
seeing us together for the first time
as you helped me assemble a gas barbecue
in my backyard
that he understood why
we were such good friends
more like brothers
your father called us a vaudeville team
and we did routines
to amuse ourselves
more than anyone else
in countless states
in foreign countries
and though I know your eyes
my eyes
have watered of late
these thousands of miles
these long years now
keeping us from laughing
at our own jokes
rest assured
old friend
our vaudeville days are not over
and since you can no longer
make the trip alone
I promise
old friend
I’ll be there yet
one morning