Michael

.

a

l

w

a

y

s

.

tried,

–

–

dressing

.

professionally

.

w

i

t

h

.

shirt

.

a

n

d

.

tie

.

pride . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ he

dressed

.

w

i

t

h

.

shirt

.

a

n

d

.

tie

.

pride,

–

–

each

.

a

n

d

.

every

.

workday,

.

.

s

o

.

.

he

.

might

.

someday,

–

–

earn

.

a

.

dollar

.

raise

.

o

n

.

top

.

o

f

.

his

.

minimum

.

wage . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ to

earn

.

a

.

dollar

.

raise

.

o

n

.

top

.

o

f

.

minimum

.

wage . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

no

.

o

n

e

.

seemed

.

t

o

.

notice . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

n

o

r

–

–

–

seemed

.

t

o

.

appreciate . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

t

i

l

l

–

–

–

I

.

admired

.

h

i

m

.

anyway,

–

–

just

.

f

o

r

.

having

.

t

h

e

.

faith . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ I

admired

.

h

i

m

.

just

.

f

o

r

.

having

.

t

h

e

.

faith . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Michael

.

a

l

w

a

y

s

.

tried,

–

–

striving

.

t

o

.

reach

.

dreams

.

t

h

a

t

.

drifted

.

above

.

t

h

e

.

skies . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

o

r

–

–

–

he

.

w

o

u

l

d

.

make

.

a

n

y

.

compromise,

–

–

working

.

a

l

l

.

hours

.

o

f

.

the

.

days

.

a

n

d

.

nights,

–

–

because

.

h

e

.

knew

.

h

e

.

would

.

n

e

v

e

r

.

capitalize

.

otherwise,

–

–

without

.

making

.

s

o

m

e

.

sacrifice . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ without

making

.

s

o

m

e

.

changes

.

i

n

.

his

.

life . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

o

r

–

–

–

he

.

came

.

t

o

.

realize

.

t

h

e

r

e

.

was

.

n

o

.

other,

.

.

o

n

.

.

which

.

h

e

.

could

.

rely . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ no

other

.

w

h

o

.

might

.

help

.

h

i

m

.

arrive . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

watched

.

h

i

m

.

grow . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

watched

.

h

i

m

.

grow . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

watched

.

h

i

m

.

grow . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

r

o

m

.

a

.

caring,

.

young

.

man,

.

.

w

h

o

.

.

knew

.

how

.

t

o

.

love . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

i

n

t

o

–

–

–

an

.

independent

.

m

a

n

.

who

.

needed

.

n

o

t

.

anyone . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ who

needed

.

n

o

t

.

anyone . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Michael

.

a

l

w

a

y

s

.

tried,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

there

.

once

.

w

a

s

.

a

.

t

i

m

e

.

when

.

I

.

.

.

.

.

.

w

a

s

.

.

.

a

.

large

.

part

.

o

f

.

his

.

life . . .

.

.

.

.

.

.

w

a

s

.

.

.

a

.

large

.

part

.

o

f

.

his

.

smile . . .

.

.

.

.

.

.

w

a

s

.

.

.

a

.

large

.

part

.

o

f

.

his

.

future . . .

.

.

.

.

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

.

a

.

large

.

part

.

o

f

.

his

.

rhyme . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

never

.

d

i

d

.

I

.

realize,

.

.

h

e

.

.

would

.

m

a

k

e

.

retrospection

.

shine

.

s

o

.

bright . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ never

.

d

i

d

.

I

.

realize,

.

.

a

l

l

.

.

the

.

while,

.

.

h

o

w

.

.

deeply

.

h

e

.

loved

.

w

h

e

n

.

he

.

w

a

s

.

mine . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ how

.

deeply

.

h

e

.

loved

.

w

h

e

n

.

he

.

w

a

s

.

mine:

–

–

–

.

.

.

Michael

.

a

l

w

a

y

s

.

took

.

t

h

e

.

time

.

t

o

.

polish

.

e

v

e

r

y

.

moment . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ to

savor

.

every

.

w

o

r

d

.

that

.

w

a

s

.

spoken . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ leaving

.

t

h

e

.

lamplight

.

t

o

.

linger

.

i

n

.

adoration,

.

.

j

u

s

t

.

.

so

.

h

e

.

could

.

cherish

.

a

n

d

.

adMire . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

before

.

we

.

.

f

e

l

l

.

.

into

.

t

h

a

t

.

deep,

.

a

n

d

.

peaceful

.

ease . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Michael

.

w

o

k

e

.

early

.

mornings

.

s

o

.

he

.

c

o

u

l

d

.

tenderly

.

w

a

k

e

.

me

.

f

r

o

m

.

my

.

sleep . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

before

.

rushing

.

o

f

f

.

to

.

t

h

a

t

.

second

.

j

o

b

.

which

.

h

e

.

worked,

.

.

o

n

l

y

.

.

so

.

h

e

.

could

.

provide

.

n

i

c

e

.

things

.

f

o

r

.

me . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

whenever

.

o

u

r

.

lips

.

w

o

u

l

d

.

meet,

.

.

h

e

.

.

kissed

.

a

s

.

if

.

every

.

second

.

w

o

u

l

d

.

be

.

t

h

e

.

last . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

when

.

h

e

.

looked . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ when

.

h

e

.

looked

.

a

t

.

me . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

w

a

s

.

the

.

only . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

w

a

s

.

the

.

only . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

w

a

s

.

the

.

only . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

w

a

s

.

the

.

only . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

w

a

s

.

the

.

only . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

–

–

–

yes,

.

Michael

.

a

l

w

a

y

s

.

tried . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

someday

.

I

.

hope

.

h

e

.

will

.

realize,

.

.

h

o

w

.

.

much

.

I

.

cherish

.

t

h

e

.

garden

.

vines

.

h

e

.

selflessly

.

planted . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

They

bloom . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

They

bloom . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

They

bloom . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

i

n

t

o

–

–

–

the

–

–

white,

–

–

ruby,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

violet,

.

springtime

.

smiles . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ they

bloom . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

i

n

t

o

–

–

–

the

–

–

white,

–

–

ruby,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

violet,

.

springtime

.

smiles . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

which

.

forever

.

charm

.

.

m

y

.

.

eyes,

.

.

m

y

.

.

heart,

–

–

even

.

o

n

.

days

.

w

h

i

c

h

.

strive . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ even

.

o

n

.

days

.

w

h

i

c

h

.

strive . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

t

o

–

–

–

lose

.

t

h

e

i

r

.

grace,

–

–

shimmer,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

shine.

Reflection: This was a forgotten reflective-themed poem that I wrote back in June of 2009 in loving memory and appreciation of a wonderful friend (and a former romantic partner). I was very awkward and had so many things to learn back in our earlier days together. I hope this poem does him justice and helps him to realize just how much he meant to me and how greatly I loved, cherished, and appreciated him over the years.