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

[Michelle Coleman]

Very few poets have caught my attention, Dan. Everything I read from you touches a chord within.

Reading this poem was a lot like sitting shot gun on a roller coaster ride for me. I never knew which way the track would turn until i was flying around a curve or dropping down a steep hill.

Starting out, I imagine you were describing a romantic flame. My mind, I suppose, is wired that way. But once I got over that, I then envisioned two young men going on nighttime adventures with their wicked banter and inside humor. Instant best friends for life.

Oh, that second part. When two minds converge, though seemingly opposite, without the limitations of judgement find the freedom of exposing those dark and hidden caverns locked away from the general public. Love this.

Part three is a bit heartbreaking. It is filled with disappointment and shattered dreams. We all long to be a part of something bigger than ourselves and we want that something to be enough. And when it is not.... No amount of guilt in the world can mend the kind of break I imagine. Did he commit suicide?

"His cold sticcato imprint." Powerful way to end this piece. I am surprised it did not get a lot of attention when you first posted.

[dan]

Michelle, Back in the day, Marty and I would "go cruising," driving around drinking beer and smoking weed (hence the line 'our junk cars veered toward the night'). On the radio would come one of his favorite songs, the Who's My Generation (he especially liked the line "hope I die before I get old") He truly wanted that, and when I asked what he thought of as old, he said 30. He died two weeks before his 30th birthday. No it wasn't suicide but very sudden. He woke up one day and one of his fingers was numb. By the time he got to work (he was a salesman for a Pittsburgh seafood company, visiting restaurants and establishing relationships with chefs/kitchen managers) another of his fingers was numb. His boss advised him to go to the ER. When he got there the docs could tell something was seriously wrong and he was admitted. Within an hour he had died from a brain aneurysm. I'm sitting here crying as I write this. I think I took that loss almost as bad as when my Dad died when I was 14. Now, "his cold, staccato imprint." Staccato means a series of abrupt, clipped sounds, not AT ALL an appropriate adjective for the word imprint. But it came to me immediately as I was writing the last line. 'Staccato' just had THE FEEL of what I was trying to convey. So I kept it in that line. And I posted this poem the day I joined WC, no one knew me yet so I got one review. That's why the re-post. Plus the other day marked 26 years to the day that Marty passed. Thank you for the great review, Michelle. RIP Marty! take care...dan

[Michelle Coleman]

Dan, you have had such loss in your life. It am glad it wasn't suicide

I have a friend who believed he would die before he was thiety also. Thank God, he didn't. It is amazing what we think of as old when we are young.

You have such a great outlet for your experiences and. Feel honored to be among those who witness pieces of your life unfolding on the "paper."

Thank you for sharing such a painful part of your past.

[dan]

Thank you for being one of my many 'friends' on WC who are there to 'catch me' when I'm staggering. I consider you a good friend, Michelle. Thank you for your continued support. take care...dan

[Michelle Coleman]

I enjoy your friendship and continued presence as well. 😊 the feeling is definitely mutual.

[samanthaashley_]

this was beautifully intense. I really liked the music theme throughout the poem. the first and third stanzas were my favorites, and I liked the detail about the "junk cars" in the first stanza. something about it made me think about my friends in the music industry.. always having a good time, not really caring about material things as long as they had fun and good people in their lives. on another note, I am sorry to hear about your friend. I recently experienced a loss that I haven't been able to stop writing about. writing can be incredibly healing, yet painful. thank you for sharing this.

[dan]

Sam, Thanks so much for your warm and kind words. Yesterday marked 26 years since the best friend I've ever had passed away, it was a tough day for me. ***Now I'm tearing up again. I'm glad you enjoyed the write, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to introduce Marty to so many new 'virtual' friends. take care...dan

[Brittany Zedalis]

"I somehow knew. I somehow knew!"

I've heard that when a loved one dies, those closest to them just know. This happened to me when my mom died; I knew the moment I saw my phone light up from my dad calling me even though he could have been calling for anything.

This is a worthy tribute to your friend. I am sorry for your loss.

[dan]

Luna, Even though it was 26 years ago today that he died, I still hurt a lot and spent a good bit of today crying. I've never had a friend line Marty, before or since. Thank you for your warm review. take care...dan

[~]

Words from the heart. Your friend would have liked reading this poem Dan. I am sincerely sorry for your loss. May his memory live within happy moments in your thoughts.

[dan]

ms, I decided to repost this so I could put one of his favorite songs with it, and it was only reviewed once the first time (I was brand new and no one knew me yet). Plus today is the 26th anniversary of the day he passed on. It still makes me cry, been doing so all day. Thank you so much for your kindhearted words. take care...dan

[~]

we are here alongside with you...

[...]

Some people, well, they make us feel alive, and every day is an adventure and you feel less alone. Missing them never goes away. So sorry for your loss, dear poet. I'm sure he would really like what you had to say...blessings

[dan]

lynn, I have an especially heavy heart today as it was 26 years ago today that he passed. It doesn't get much easier with each passing year. Thanks so much for your kind words. take care...dan

[...]

I lost someone just last Nov. Feels like yesterday. I feel ya, Dan

[wordman]

good friends are never forgotten
great write,music!!

[dan]

wm, Marty was the best friend I ever had, before or since. Today was hard because it's been 26 years, he is still deeply missed. Thank you for your warm review. take care...dan

[wordman]

sorry dan,and your welcome

[jacob erin-cilberto]

time on earth is so transient...here one minute, gone the next...but not forgotten.

a beautifully put together tribute...

[dan]

jacob, Thank you sir. I've never had a better friend than Marty, before or since. Today marks 26 years that he's gone. Thank you for your warm words. take care...dan

[John Anthony Fingleton]

Moving and I could feel you loss and pain. Someone really never dies, when words keep them alive in the heart...just a seperation until the next meeting.

[dan]

Thank you, sir. I don't really recognize your name, and there IS no link to your page on this small comment and picture, so I don't know how to promise that I'll return the favor with a review of your stuff. Can you please message me or something to enable me to reach you? I appreciate your comment and WILL return the favor if I know how to do so. thank you...dan

[John Anthony Fingleton]

You are welcome Dan This is my first day here and I am still finding my way around.....I have no idea how the link works here....don't worry about my stuff.....it is mainly thoughts on words then poetry....thank you for your words.

[dan]

But I wish to reciprocate the honor of reviewing your poetry as you did mine...please don't minimize your writing, or else why did you join WC? Right now I have no link to your page to go on, can you use the link here to my page to go there and send me a message? I'll be able to contact you that way, get to your page and review your work, however you care to minimalize it. Sound good? Looking forward to hearing from you. take care...dan

[John Anthony Fingleton]

Dan it is a long story why I came here...but that can wait for another day....I have posted just two short poems.....let me see if I can work out how to give you the link......if you end up reviewing the Pope's work forgive me I am not so good in the beginning finding my way around.

[John Anthony Fingleton]

Dan you will have to forgive my ignorance of this page....all I can say is that I am on line now and that is how I am finding other people's work

[Kelly Scheppers]

You've done your friend proud, Dan. I felt a lump in my throat, as though I knew him too...what incredible writing...

"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."

Your loss, your pain was immeasurable...thank you for reposting this. And thank you for sharing Marty's life!

[dan]

Kelly, I originally posted this the first day that I belonged to WC. YOU were the only one who reviewed it, probably because no one knew who I was. At the time you said, "It's hard to believe that no one else has reviewed it." So today, the 26th anniversary of the day he died, I decided to try again with the addition of one of Marty's favorite Led Zep songs. Thank you so much for your warm review, then AND now. take care...dan

[Matching Socks]

Dan, this is such a moving poem for your friend.
You have just immortalized him through your poem.
I can't think of a more touching tribute.

[dan]

Thank you Ana. I originally posted this back in mid-January, the day I joined WC. So today, the 26th anniversary of his passing I decided to give it another shot, with one of his favorite Led Zeppelin songs playing in the background. Thanks so much for your warm review. take care...dan

[ANTO]

Some people we get to know and we quickly feel that surely? - we have known them all our lives - such is the impact they have and the 'best friend of all time'-shaped hole they leave in their passing.
Your description here of the relationship, the different things you both contributed to same and the tragic demise of your friend really does affect the reader Dan.
The pain and the still rawness of it is tangible.
Perhaps the first time you posted this - it just wasnt it's 'time'.
"You didnt know how to put the song on it, til now, Dan !!" - I can almost hear him say.

Bravo Dan.
:)

[dan]

Anto, Thank you so much for your warm words. Today marks 26 years ago that he passed, and I feel as if he's sitting next to me saying, "Hey, Dan...I think it's time we sparked another joint!" To paraphrase an old song, if there's a rock 'n' roll heaven, then I know Marty's playing his Les Paul LOUDLY. Thank you for your fine review, much appreciated. take care...dan

[ANTO]

I love that.
Your very welcome Dan.
God Bless.
;))