BOB

I THINK OF YOU A LOT, BOB
AND OF THE DAY YOU LEFT US SUDDENLY
FOOLISHLY, BUT WE WERE YOUNGER THEN
MANY THINGS WERE BLACK OR WHITE THAT NOW ARE GRAY

YES, YOU DO HAVE A WAY OF FORCING YOURSELF INTO MY MEMORY
STRANGE THAT WE KNEW EACH OTHER FOR SUCH A SHORT TIME
SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE I KNEW YOU FOREVER
AS BOYS ON A HOT AUGUST NIGHT, AS CHUMS IN SCHOOL, AT A BALL GAME
OR ON A DOUBLE DATE, I KNEW YOU SO WELL

AND STRANGE THAT WE SHOULD MEET IN A DISTANT LAND WHEN YOU LIVED IN MY TOWN
FOR SO LONG
WE COULD HAVE RUN INTO EACH OTHER AND BECOME FRIENDS!
I COULD HAVE SHARED YOU DREAMS LONG BEFORE THAT NIGHT WE TALKED SO QUIETLY
YOU KNOW I REMEMBER EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT NIGHT, THAT TALK, EVERY DETAIL,
EVERYTHING OF WHAT YOU SAID, AND EVEN WHAT YOU ATE,
PEACHES FROM THE CAN WITH YOUR DIRTY FINGERS.
LONG AGO, BUT I COULD PICK YOUR FACE TODAY FROM A MILLION.

HOW WAS I TO KNOW YOU WOULD DIE THE NEXT DAY?
AND THAT DAY LIVES IT'S OWN LIFE IN MY SOUL.
I HAVE A FILM OF IT THAT PLAYS AGAIN AND AGAIN,
GOD HELP ME! I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT STOP.

AT THE STRANGEST PLACES, AT THE STRANGEST TIMES, AND OF COURSE, HOW CAN I
EXPLAIN TO MY FRIENDS WHY I'M CRYING AT A PARTY?
I AM ASHAMED.
I PUT YOU OUT OF MY MIND AFTER IT HAPPENED. AND WHEN THEY DRAGGED
(LIKE A DEER, I REMEMBER) YOU BACK,
I WOULDN'T LOOK BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE WHAT THEY DID TO YOU.
YOU WERE SHOT SO MANY TIMES, I AM ASHAMED. I WANTED IT TO BE LIKE IN THE MOVIES.

I WOULD HOLD YOU IN MY ARMS, WHILE YOU FORCED A GUTSY SMILE AND SAID
SOMETHING NOMBLE THROUGH CLENCHED TEETH, BEARING THE PAIN LIKE A MAN.
BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY AND I AM ASHAMED I SHUT YOU OUT.

TELL YOU WHAT, I'LL PROMISE TO REMEMBER YOU NOW AND FOREVER, TO MY LAST
BREATH AND BEYOND IF I CAN. I'LL BRING YOU ALONG WHEREVER I GO.
YOU CAN SHARE MY JOYS AND MY PAIN.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT I SEE, FEEL AND HEAR AND BREATHE, AND SIT IN THE WARMTH OF THE SUN.

I PROMISE TO TREASURE THAT BRIEF SPARK OF LOVE THAT WE SHARED.

LT WILLIAM P. BRANDT, FORWARD OBSERVER, VIETNAM