In Memorial
For Michael, Shannon, George, and Kieth

1
Michael, last in the line of God’s smiting fist
It seems you were not with us long enough for people to understand
That you drew so much more than just a bunch of pretty pictures
Even though, that is probably what you’ll be remembered for
Still drawing through cancer-induced bone marrow hell and making it seem easy
In your absence we will all sharpen our pencils and strive to be better
2
Shannon, the day I heard I was at a poetry slam
It felt like someone had ripped my heart out and stomped on it
Could not breathe for 3 minutes, did not want to perform
Could only remember the only words I ever said to you:
“Beautiful, in every possible sense of the word, beautiful”
It is the only epitaph I can offer
Only 20 years old, God, what the hell were you thinking?
“Beautiful, in every sense of the word...”
3
George, if you don’t understand why this man was a poet
Than honestly, we don’t need to be talking to each other
In my home “Brain Droppings” and “Napalm and Silly Putty”, were referred to as “the Good Books”
All our lives, as performers, we live with the eternal frustration: “Carlin, already did it”
We will never forget the Good Words, all 7 of them
The holy hymn of the foulmouthed troublemakers of the world
Say ‘em with me if you know ‘em: Shit Piss Fuck Cunt Cocksucker Motherfucker Tits
4
Kieth, you didn’t know Kieth
Unless you paid real close attention
Blink and you’ll miss them roles in Drop Dead Fred and the Royal Tanenbaums
Kieth was an actor, a neighbor, and a family friend
Lovingly tending to the garden outside our building
Purple violets and smile creating a small oasis of beauty in a desert of cold brick and mortar
A good feeling in a city to often bereft of them
These are the types of everyday constants you grew up with
Never expecting one day you would be blindsided while riding the elevator
By the fact that you will never experience these things again
A comic cover, a poem, a good joke, a smile and a waive
They are such small moments
The weight of them is so heavy they make the words on this page, seem like a bullshit coping mechanism
Cursing ourselves, because this is the best we can do to honor all this love
There is light in those moments
There is love in these memories
That will not die
For Michael, for Shannon, for George, and for Kieth
This poem is our promise, that we will never stop loving for you