Out driving our first cars at night
snaking the blackness of North East country roads
I'd flick the headlights off
hear the girls scream
then back on and we'd crack up laughing

In our town, there wasn't much to do
but wander looping streets 
haunt the park outside of college
blow house to house, see who was home
or spend it lying in your bedroom laughing

When you and Chris split, he took it well
drank too much a week or so and then
got a little down but everything went on
still way too soon for Mike to tell you
so we all sat as friends and laughed

Back then, I couldn't think of much else but Jenny
but I loved the way you'd say my family name
still hear it ringing from the depths of memory
standing with you in some sticky bar
and you collapsing into Mike laughing

They were gentle times, good times 
before we were scattered wide
I don't think I saw or thought of you that often
twenty years just paces before our eyes
how I hope you kept on laughing

With your man, your son
your life carved out somewhere...

On a Brighton beach, one weekend this summer
Mike was chatting, said ’the cancer took you’
and nothing more to add to that
just taken - that's all he knew
there on the pebbles, I stood, winded and weeping

Just taken - nothing more to add to that

Jordan, it was laugher, laughter
of you; that will always be my memory
sweet laughter, laughter
and the way you spoke my family name...

 

(August 2018)

- For JM/JS '82-'18 -