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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