Farewell my friend

I see your bronze bust
on this burning spot

from talent to star to dust
sucked up close to the people

I smell my friend’s sweat, your scent
lost on the back of stardom

I hear children cheering with delight
I hear a mother shouting: “No—stop!”

The smoke of beefburgers as I descend
not far from here, the City of Angels
and stories of yesterday and today

I still see you driving
fast
-off that cliff
into the abyss

I feel staggering, again
sluggish with impressions, too much
I left behind

• for you, my friend

(you pull me away
you tell me what you don’t think
you do to me what you don’t say)

I feel myself vanishing,
too little moisture, too much reason
holding my breath

• wait for me

I who recognize you, the rebel
the fighter for the young skin,

I taste the silver
on my lips
just a moment longer –
I fall
I taste the stench
that drives me,
that keeps me upright, my friend
and you who shouts:
“Drink, drink as much as you can!”

Leave me alone, just like him,
I don’t want to go back,
you who say: “Hang in there.”

I who think – you filthy bastard,
I love you, but now it’s enough,

I can still see myself driving
into the abyss
fast

• from that cliff

smiling like Brando and Dean
farewell, my friend.

For Dean @griffithobservatory