John Dye Is Dead Poem by Jim Boone

John Dye Is Dead

The ‘Angel of Death’
Touched by an Angel
Left his heart and bod in SFO

He was ‘Making the Grade’ in ‘84
While I was trying to reinvent
Myself close to where I was born
Home grown homo returned to meet
My own Angel of Death, but he
Never came, never mentioned my name.

John Dye is dead and
Jim Boone is alive and still poised
His was a ‘heart attack’, mine is
‘the great race’ – journey to the
End of the world with the tenacity
To go around one more time
With less angst, renewed fun and greater Joy!

John Dye is dead and
Jim Boone is alive and, , , well,
Resigned, still curious
Home alone in someone else’s house

A ‘boyfriend’ to ‘Pan’ with Elvis rising
A neighborhood friend with
Philanthropic aspirations

One who still finds great joy in
Other’s achievements
And hope in my own continuation.

I’m alive and John Dye is dead.
Go figure.
jb 2011