James Michael Francis

“I heard the NEWS today Oh Boy” 🎶 Beatles

“There’s a sign on the wall
But she wants to be sure
‘Cause you know, sometimes words
have two meanings”
Led Zeppelin

Rattled by the force
Of the inevitable voice
I remember anxiously
As the first day of school begun
I remember the crisp air
I remember orange leaf piles
I remember that you
We’re always there to comfort me
We would hunt toads and tadpoles exploring abanded pig farms
filled with rats and snakes

With the Golden Ring of Mordor
And you, armed with Sting
I wore the cape of invisibility
Fearing that I did not fit in
It was us that lit fire for Balentine
We were intouch of ancient ways
You my friend were
always there for me
Even in heart as these years
Slowly slipped away.

You taught me how to ride a bicycle a fancy ten speed Schwinn…
I remember how the brakes
Never truly grasped
I remembered danger
at every stop

I remember when you were off to war, and I didn’t understand….
We were not defending Ourselves
so it was much deeper
and murkier than That

I heard you had a wife
And sired a beautiful child as well ‘never did get to meet them and the next I knew, you were on your own

I’m sorry
I’m sorry I could not find you
And be with you as you were there for me..
No more adventures
Or being able to laugh at life
At Monty Python or silly things
I heard you in the end that you were alone
With your PTSD

ANOTHER Live Soldier lost to war
And YOU had conquered Smaug!
I’m so sorry my friend of friends
You could Never have been replaced

I am true
I Am true to say that I loved you
It’s not an easy Word for me
To say
But … When I say it , I mean it!
I would have taken an bullet for you, life is so damn fleeting I cherish every moment.

What made you do it
Can you let me in to your mind! One Hundred and Fifty Miles an hour… Armed with more that an liter of Scotch and illegal contraband

You knew the roads, the hair pin turns … You were riding into Hell
No looking back. I read that you hydroplaned some one hundred thirty feet off your motorcycle into another grassy knoll
And you
Too unrecognizable at first glance

At least you had
both your ID and Dog Tags
My mind still reeling
In your pain.
I have One more
“I need to say I love you”
and that we shall
Meet again

We will return
One day
Back to
the Shire

MB93
2022