ANOTHER POEM

This was written after an evening at Jim's - after Noel had passed on.

REUNION - MANILA

Gathered in Jim’s dining room
survivors, we

our talk is light
light as the champagne Jim
uncorks to toast
another reunion

the laughter is real as
the pastries arranged
on a plate

Jim gives a running commentary about each piece just as we
annotate each joke
footnote each reference
and catalogue
each memory

the stories are the same
as always
the jokes are not new
but the voices are
different:
deeper
quieter
not quite so heedless
now

we do not talk about
the battles we have fought
and won
or lost
or have left to fight

for the moment the voices of our respective
constituencies
are stilled,
locked out

and then the magical happens: for an hour
or so
our younger selves leave
the cramped quarters of the present, stretch
embrace
and play

and suddenly, there is no room
but grass
again
and sand
and beach

there is no table here, or books,
or fax machine
but sky

we are sitting
squatting
leaning against each other
or a softball bat

we are wearing red and white uniforms
we are getting ready to practice
the steps of a dance
the moves of a game
the songs we will sing
tomorrow.