Passing Of A Friend Poem by Luke Easter

Guy E Cameron Jr. (R.I.P.)

It was the latter part of the 1950's
Buffalo New York, on Northland Ave,
Neighbor across the street a.k.a. Genie Boy,
there was something amazing he would do.

He came in the house a big smile on his face,
So bright, he seemed to light up the whole place,
He was carrying in both hands a great big box,
He called it pizza It was more like Goldilocks.

He had one slice for each of us to go around,
Just one bite and my best friend I have found,
I only knew Italian from macaroni and cheese,
Rest of my life my newfound friend would please.

Genie and the teenagers were doing the twist,
I was not a dancer therefore I could not resist,
From whence did this thing you called a pie,
I needed a name and address so I could go buy.

Straight up Northland turn left on Broadway,
Tony's pizzeria is what Genie Boy would say,
Didn't have pen and paper intentively I listened,
I remember thinking Genie Boy was a magician.

Several years older I began to look up to him,
I can see myself changing like boys to men,
Adulation had grown in a meaningful way,
When my hero had become the local DJ.

That time of my life, I would listen to Motown,
I still tuned in while he would lay Jazz down,
Once again he helped to expand my horizons,
To the baseball game & see the Buffalo Bisons.

My dad was the first Negro to play for that team,
My dad and my friend would weed out the green,
Turning me into a lean, mean, fighting machine,
Those early days helped as I became a Marine.

Always happens in life when people move on,
A moment of sadness, heard he had passed on.
But then I focused on those fond memories,
Soon I realized that he is still here with me.