Thirteen years ago we walked across a church stage
Now, so many of us are dead
Iraq, Afghanistan, or from drug overdoses
[Mostly drug overdoses]
Some of them? farming or fishing accidents – But
Mostly drug overdoses
She called me on the phone
Came down the stairs
Telephone cord like a noose
Did you hear about William?
Did you hear about Carolyn?
Did you hear about Ben?
Did you hear about…
Did you hear about those faces?
You remember all of them.
You know you do.
Each name is a bee
Each death is a stinger
Have you heard about the drug overdoses?
How can I succeed
When my peers won’t even see
The same number of birthdays?
Won’t even see their children’s first days
Of kindergarten as big eyes,
Tiny shoes, and backpacks–
While Widows and Widowers
Left behind – cried dry –
On the other end of the line
I hear my god daughter’s mother say
“Another one O.D.’ ed”
My feet on the ground
I’m 23, I’m 25, I’m 27, I’m 30
Six dead in six months
Staring back through time
At the faces of the children
We once were
Joking about the adults
They’d never grow up to be
“Who this time?”
I stare into nothingness
I stare into oblivion
I stare into telephone cord nooses
“Just another friend.”