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Permission granted by author for anyone to distribute this
writing free of charge (including translation into any
language)...under condition that no profit is made therefrom,
and that it remain intact and complete, including title and 
credit to the original author.

Ezekiel J. Krahlin
http://www.gay-bible.org
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SEPTEMBER'S PASSAGE
(A True Tale From The Castro. Eat your heart out, Armistead!)

(c) 1997 by Ezekiel J. Krahlin


thinking of you this labor day
     happy LOVE'S labor day
browsing in walgreens aisle of greeting cards
(mini via dolorosa):



In friendship... Hang in there... Something about you just makes my little heart skip a beat... I like you for what you are... Every day something reminds me of you... If wishing wells work, if crossed fingers count, if theres any magic in the world... A poem for you my love... Top 10 reasons to smile... When i think about us i wonder how i got so lucky and then i remember... Woke up with a wonderful thought today... Its just me sending a little card to give you a little smile a little lift... For my guy... When im with you i do things i really shouldnt do... chipmunks cats turtles bears gophers a moose? (broad brown antlers, huge honker, head poked through open window of your home, joyful licks) puppy dogs flowers, stars, crescent moons, hearts a snake? (crooked stovepipe hat tipped in friendly greeting, red bowtie) pretending wishing these cards even one for gods sake were sent from washington d c return address randy taylor oh why drown myself in grief? why think of you anymore? RANDOLPH LOUIS TAYLOR: writing letters in the donut shop to your adored one (jose) Dearest Little Squirrel i walked in for the first time our eyes met could not pull away your feet on the stairs of 689 castro as i stood at your door about to knock walking in the rain beside you under your umbrella i wanted to beg you not to leave but i said nothing january 16 1985 11 o clock news your face on the screen "randolph louis taylor vietnam veteran antiwar and gay rights activist gave speeches with ron kovic (author of born on the 4th of july) fasted 40 days in 84 for representation of vietnam veterans at the s f democratic convention shot himself early this morning at the vietnam veterans memorial in washington d c" i turned off the t v wept thought it was all over but next day discovered it wasnt you were still alive! desperately sought your whereabouts then wrote to you letter after letter day after day until those incredible love letters before i flew to d c your desperate appeal: "please help stop the dying" your promise (never fulfilled) to be "as good a friend to you as you have been to me" your old mans snore (open mouth) as i gazed upon you from the door of your hospital room in d c marching out of the canteen in childish arrogance because i scolded you (walkman headphones over your ears) wearing the tsingtsing-lingling panda t shirt i bought you your chest puffed with pride boastful strides through VAMC corridors new haircut such lovely waves of silver hair! shirt pulled up for me to touch the lump bullet lodged beside your shoulder blade strong broad marines back! sensuous smooth! agent orange skin cancer operation scars! brave soldier proud veteran of armageddon! top gun my hero my little chipmunk! my beloved comrade in arms! your moist cool kiss on my neck like a playful vampire beside the statue of saint francis i threw my arms around your shoulders raised myself off the grass (youre so tall!) to return the love bite my lonely visit to "the wall" "the wailing wall of amerika" where you shot yourself in the heart but missed vietnam veterans memorial black slabs of polished stone pressed into the side of a grassy mound inscribed with the names of the dead the deluded homophobic dead except for the few true believers in brotherly love (who? we may never know) bronze statue of five soldiers raising the american flag WWII behind me & to my left i shiver while you play bingo back at the hospital the agony of my departure after 3 weeks alone on the jet (peoples express) looking down from the sky the white house the obelisk lincoln memorial the veterans administration memorial center where you were knowing that by now you received my parting gift bouquet of roses delivered to your door tag attached: "semper fidelis. genie." dupont circle georgetown foggy bottom the potomac river chesapeake bay clouds sudden burst of tears in my sleeve oh how cruel you were to me almost every time we were together "gene, i never asked you to come here" even after 15+ years i cannot believe that i am not your hero guardian angel best buddy confidante that you turned your love to hate but i still write to you compose verses in your honor thinking of you this labor day randolph If wishing wells work, if crossed fingers count, if theres any magic in the world... ---finis