for Paul

for a moment, i sat on the top step and looked three stories down ransford avenue

i rode my bike to the rose bowl (three times around)

i looked up at the agave spikes about to flower on the high hillside

i looked at the people jogging and walking

i drank iced coffee out of my steel bottle

i waited at the crossing for the light rail train to pass

i looked at the white clouds over the mountains

i thought they were beautiful, just like my wife said

i kissed the small of her back while she cooked chile beans

i scratched her back as we watched a dvd about sebastiao salgado

i scratched the dogs head and muttered something to him

i washed the dishes with soap and hot water thinking that it’s some kind of privilege

each thing increases with wonder when you see the main stem crushed and broken

i drove 900 miles to clean out your place and make your final arrangements

it’s an honor and a privilege to have shared this life with you

thank you for 57 years, my brother