Marty (Then and Gone)

a tribute to my best friend marty, taken way too soon. i am reposting this because it got very little attention when i posted it originally, plus i wanted to add one of marty's favorite songs

When two live wires intersect

A spark so vivid, raging light.

As two disparate minds converge,

Each dislocation is contradicted

By these eclectic beings;

Their junk cars veer toward the night,

So proper words, so laughable

And always self-inflicted.

And often impolite.

 

A merge of minds so different,

Two gleaming, guileless spirits;

These rumbling docile creatures

March to thoughts so reckless…

Their manic, carefree intellects

Reflect the dark, like horror flicks,

Those stilted double-features.

 

He offered talent, I brought noise;

Two make-believe musicians,

He let me think that I belonged…deluded…

A muted notion - -

If this was war,

I packed no ammunition.

His need to fly, his bid goodbye,

Borne by gilded talent wrapped in song,

Back to where it had all belonged…

His star would whisper when… and why.

 

A soggy day, so right to mourn,

So starkly torn by rage and pain;

I somehow knew. I somehow knew!

My sister shouted, “Read the paper!”

And I choked to see his name in print,

His transient time was lived uniquely,

Remembered now for things he did

Now glowing - his human power grid…

His aura, my guilt, now smeared by pain:

His cold, staccato imprint.     

 

dan © 2014    

 

Music: “The Song Remains the Same,” by Led Zeppelin                   

Author's Note

Reviews

[BLitZeD]

very well written, and your story telling aspect was very descriptive while still keeping the pace

[dan]

BLitZ3D, thanks for the review. Writing about a long-dead best friend took awhile...very deep thoughts. It seemed like an irregular presentation/rhyme scheme would kick it up a notch. take care...dan

[Cyndy Robinson]

Very well done. One hopes your friend was with you in spirit when writing this. He would approve. Now you have a piece of him always in these words, and he lives on!

[dan]

Cyndy, Thank you for the great read/review. I changed the Marty poem about 100 times while I was writing it and I still don't think I fully conveyed the bond we shared, the way we reflected off one another...Best friend in my life before and since. Thanks again for your kind words. take care...dan

[Solar]

A glowing tribute by one creative spirit to another! This stood out among the many wonderful lines: March to thoughts so reckless…
Their manic, carefree intellects
Reflect the dark, like horror flicks,
Those stilted double-features.

[dan]

Not a lot of people know what double-features even were (LONG time ago). Yes, Marty was my best friend who died way too early (age 29) about 30 years ago. I use a lot of abstract language because our relationship was so hard to define. Thank you so much for your kind words! take care...dan

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Dan for sharing the amazing story. Good people touch our life and we can lose them too soon.
"He offered talent, I brought noise;
Two make-believe musicians,
He let me think that I belonged…deluded…"
The above lines were my favorite. Friendship made with song.
Coyote

[dan]

Thank you, John. Marty was the best friend I've ever had. We used to drive around in our cars drinking beer and listening to FM radio. His favorite song was The Who's "My Generation," with its iconic line 'I hope I die before I get old." He always considered being 30 as OLD...he died several days before his 30th birthday of a brain aneurysm. Every review I receive for this piece makes me feel his life again, if only for a brief instance. So thank you for THAT as well as the review. take care...dan

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome Dan.

[jeannemarie coulter]

very powerful poem about loss and those who glow so brightly their light will never dim in our hearts...

[dan]

Thank you, this was very hard to write...I must have revised it 30 times before I decided it was done. Marty will never leave my side, he is always with me. Thank you for the read/review. take care...dan

[Solar]

It is even more of a tribute that you took the pains to revise it so many time- polishing an original which must have been beautiful to an even more shining memorial!

[RAOrourke]

Dan-very powerful piece! So sad to hear about your friends passing. Your emotions could be felt through your words. His need to fly, his bid goodbye,

Borne by gilded talent wrapped in song,

Back to where it had all belonged…

His star would whisper when… and why....very moving! Nice job!

[dan]

RA, Thank you so much. The day that I re-posted this write was the 26th anniversary of the day he passed, and for whatever reason it hit me particularly hard this year. So I had to re-post it with one of his favorite songs. Thanks again for your warm review. take care...dan

[RiverRei]

This is similar to my situation with my boyfriend. We are two very different people, and very stubborn which can clash like you wouldn't believe. But we also love each other very much and even though we clash, we have a great time together and get along so well. Thanks for sharing this, I enjoyed this immensely :)

[dan]

River, Marty and I were different but very similar at the same time. Best friend I've ever had, before or since. Last week marked the 26th anniversary of his death and I miss him now as much as I did the day he died. May he RIP. Thanks for your read/review, though I believe this is quite different than the relationship you have with your bf. take care...dan

[Perkele.7885]

I am glad that I got to finally read your poetry. You never know what makes two people click, be they opposites or the same ilk. It just happens and you fly with it, run with it, unite with it. And at some point' the Karma changes and the hand of reality grabs one of you. In this case Marty. Through you, Dan, I got to meet Marty! Thank You!

[dan]

Mr. P, First of all please forget about the sir. That's what I feel I should call you (unless you give me a handle to call you something beside Mr. Perk or sir. I am glad you got to meet Marty too, but you would have been better enriched to have met him for real. I never had a friend, before or since, that was my sounding board, confidante, brother and (not gay) soul mate that could finish my sentences, or write them for that matter, than Marty. When I posted this, I think it was Wednesday, it was the 26th anniversary of the day he passed. I was an emotional wreck all day, not ashamed to admit that. You happened to come along and review the write for which I am most proud and honored to have ever posted. Thank you so much for your feedback and rest assured that I have bookmarked your page and will review some of your writes ASAP. Thank you for the read/review. take care...dan

[Perkele.7885]

your print is too small for me sir!

[dan]

I will try to enlarge it. I'm keeping your review notice in my e-mail Inbox so I remember to do so later. Thank you for letting me know. take care...dan

[Perkele.7885]

You are welcome, sir!

[closed]

the greatest friends are not only amazing in thier own right...

but are humble enough even to allow us to believe that we are better than them at something, even if it's contrary


another great write


-Dream

[dan]

Wednesday was the 26th anniversary of my friend Marty passing away, best friend ever, before or since. I thank you for dropping by and commenting on my stuff, always interested in your viewpoint. take care...dan