In Memoriam A.S.

I wasn’t there
But I’m sure you wouldn’t describe the hole
In the windshield
Pretty as an openmouthed smile

“When they ran up
They couldn’t find him
He had flown” that far
That far
Maybe in a field
But not like a scarecrow

I wasn’t there
But I wonder if the car stereo
Went on playing
Like the band
As the Titanic slipped back home

I wonder now
If I knew you that well
Because you’ve flown
And yesterday
You smiled
And thought about things
All the same
And maybe you’re a virgin
And maybe we’ve both smoked before
And maybe your mind thought right
And right hand thought left
And maybe some people never cry
Yet you’ve left the world
Aware of its lacking
And I hope the smile amongst the glass
Was there
Because I wasn’t

And you’ve flown
And we can’t find you
And we’ve checked all the nests
In the neighborhood
For your blue egg smile
And we’ll keep looking
Until the sunsets
And our moms call us in
For warm apple pie
And Nat King Cole