big innocent, German, football player,
parent’s spoiled youngest, only boy –
not one to embody in
his body grand principles like
eros, thanatos – was surprised
by death his senior year, let’s
hope his eros found fulfillment –
would’ve happened with another girl –
the stubborn virgin I became,
she wouldn’t let him in

red-faced white-haired giant
handing out report cards to
the children, each petrified
to take that sheet of paper
from him with a trembling
hand – my vivid memory of
him stumbling, green mass of
vestments on the sanctuary stairs –
the congregation gasped, impressed
by how he too could fall

let me deliver huge bouquets
of gratitude for your kindnesses
to me – first a ride
when I was walking in
the rain; next invites to
post-layoff get-togethers at the
bar; third recommendation for a
new tech writing position in
“New Haven” (that’s what this
all turned out to be)