James Van Looy

Labyrinth Prayer (for Jack)

 

Ah, Jack, my best bro

the bud there will never be another like

I love you

I’ll always love you

just for iconic you

not for what you did

but who you always were

and so beautiful too

always all ways working

on  your urban ways

a poetry mobile

urban gardens

summer things

marathon poetry events

free meals

The one who saw all the things nobody else valued

and knew where they could be used

the one who noticed all the people

nobody else cared to notice

and made space for them

the one who started all the institutions

no one knew we needed

and kept them going until we realized

how important they were

Oh, Jack, my best bro

the bud there will never be another like

drift, drift, drifting bro, bud, brother

the beautiful on

who could throw a ball a mile hard and fast

strong in the way one grows strong

 from the lifetime of work

the bud there will be another like

Relax, Babe, rest Babe, be Babe

drift in an ocean of poetry

and loll under the poet tree

beautiful Babe, bro, bud, brother

there will never be another like.