Brian had a very happy birthday in September.
Surrounded by good friends, in a big party,
Festively festooned, and filled with joy and merriment.
He sang so beautifully--so hauntingly beautiful--that song
I most loved to hear him sing: "Aubrey" by Bread.
I never heard of that song, let alone heard it, before
My best friend Brian sang it at almost every karaoke we went.
He sang it so well, at his last birthday party--which, he told me,
Was the best and happiest birthday party he ever had--
His heart was happy, his eyes full of love of life, and I was glad.
Four months later, Brian was dead.
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Brian had a very happy Thanksgiving.  We celebrated together,
At the home of my friend Bob, with his family,
And with many others of his friends.
Brian ate with happiness and gusto; he took part in many talks,
And showed them all what a great conversationalist he truly was.
Brian actually gave thanks, as always--thanks to God for all
His blessings--as he taught me, too, to recall,
When he asked one day--
After I had found a lost book I had searched for, wanting it much--
"Did you remember to thank the Lord?"  I'm remembering, Brian.
In your honor, my friend, I will lean on your true strong faith,
As a help to my dwindling hope.
Brian had a good, happy time on Thanksgiving Day.
Two months later, the breath of his life had gone away.
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Christmas, Brian and I celebrated together, at the home
Of our good friends, Michael and Joyce Z.
Bright and beautiful, blinking Christmas tree.
Lights blinking--like the lights of our lives,
Blinking in the night of mystery.
Some say that this is really a Pagan holiday.
What I celebrate is the hope of new good life.
Just as in Easter--which also in parts is of Pagan provenance--
On Christmas, my heart can hear the voice of Jesus call:
"Lazareth, come forth!" 
Brian knew nothing of the Pagan connections with any holiday,
And I wasn't about to tell him, or talk about it with him, anyway;
We celebrated life together, and we both had a good day.
And as the nights began to shorten,
And the days began to lengthen,
I placed my hope in God's love;
And I hope He will forgive all Pagan trace, with His love's grace;
And give us all new good life again, someday, far or near.
Brian had a wonderful last Christmas.  Full of happy Christmas cheer.
Less than one month later, Brian was no longer here.
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Brian had a wonderful great time on New Year's Eve.
And Brian had a wonderful good time on New Year's Day.
On New Year's Eve, to a karaoke haunt we were on our way,
When suddenly, from nowhere, something caused me to say:
"Turn around, Brian.  Let's drive down to the Strip, as far as we can,
And let's watch together the fireworks there, lightning up the night,
Celebrating the start of our common New Year of new life."
And so we did.  We left afterward, and did our singing later.
But we saw such beautiful fireworks.  The light shining in darkness.
Such a beautiful, wonder-sight to behold.
Brian said, "This was a great idea!  We should have done this every year.
Let's do this again next year, Michael.  I really loved those beautiful lights."
I said,
"We will, Brian.  Next year, you and I will be here again, right here."
Brian had a very, very happy New Year;
And that was my goal.
Brian had a wonderful great time on New Year's Eve,
And Brian had a wonderful good time on New Year's Day.
But less than two weeks later, I lost my life's best friend--
The brother of my soul.
My precious friend Brian was made to disappear.
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Brian had good times, and great times, and I'm so glad,
In spite of the following shadow that took him away,
And left me alone, and bitterly sad.
Now I face the terror that I likely will not long be a living man.
My doctor told me, handing me the results of my last scan:
"This is it.  This is your death sentence."  That shattered me,
And over all the universe of sorrow and fear, it scattered me.
I'm still struggling to kiss the flying by of time, and taste
The transitory treasure of life, now leaving me in haste.
I'm going to try to focus on today.
I want to try to have a good time, anyway.
Even if I'm to be dead in a mere four months,
Or even if within a wispy smoke of less than a couple of weeks.
I want to be like Brian.  Brian set the example for me;
I cannot be as good as he; but I will really, really try to be.
I want to focus on today,
And not let grief, fear, and sorrow swallow it all,
Before time's last fleet reality for me, has slipped away,
And has left me, like Brian, lost in the last mystery.
Except for the time I will give to grief, over Brian to grieve,
I want to be as happy as my friend Brian was on New Year's Eve.
Let me take time, as time takes me. 
Let me take and taste each brief day.

==============================
Written by Michael LP, aka MLP
aka PoetWithCancer, aka PWC, aka (thanks to Luna Marie) Mr. Poet
Written on Sunday, May 15, 2011  2:55 pm PDT
72 degrees F.  Humidity: 24%  Forecast: overcast
Copyright (C) 2011 by Michael LP.  All rights reserved
(I still copyright my writings, for my estate)