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
.
m
i
g
h
t
.
someday,
–
–
earn
.
a
.
dollar
raise
.
o
n
.
top
of
.
h
i
s
.
minimum
wage . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ to
earn
.
a
.
dollar
raise
.
o
n
.
top
of
.
a
.
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
.
r~e~a~c~h
.
f
o
r
.
dreams
.
t
h
a
t
.
drifted
high
.
a
b
o
v
e
.
the
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,
–
–
there
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
.
y
o
u
n
g
.
man,
.
.
w
h
o
.
.
knew
how
.
t
o
.
love . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
i
n
t
o
–
–
–
an
independent
.
m
a
n
.
who
needed
.
n
o
.
one . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ who
needed
.
n
o
.
one . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Michael
.
a
l
w
a
y
s
.
tried,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
there
once
.
w
a
s
.
a
time,
.
.
w
h
e
n
.
.
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
.
e
v
e
r
y
.
word
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
.
h
i
s
.
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
.
e
v
e
r
y
.
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.