30/30 poem 13

Number 13

Write a poem based on this phrase "the last time Jonathan said that, somebody died."

The last time I saw Johnathan

he was opening a pack of Pall Mall filters

turning one over for luck

lighting another with a Harley-Davidson zippo

we were turnstile jumpers

American stowaways

Stoop dwellers

listening to classic rock

on a worn out boom box

with a broken cassette player.

80's kids who wanted to be 70's punks

we were Johnathan's boys

calling him Johnny

an invitation to a punch in the mouth

and sometimes a hospital stay

and the last time I saw Johnathan

we were in the underground

praying in the temple of

...keep moving

we all wanted to be like Johnathan

top dog of the underdogs

he was a walk on water/shit don't stink kind of holy

I swear to this day

he saved me

some folks find Jesus in burnt toast

I found Johnathan on 23rd and Damen

and the last time I saw Johnathan

he was taking off his leather jacket

he was walking into

when he should be walking away

Somebody called him Johnny

somebody called him coward

the way his old man did

and the last time I saw Johnathan

He told me he loved me

thanked me for being his friend

and he told me to run like hell.

I watched as he fought

watched as he pushed the kid

watched as the kid hit the third rail

I send Johnathan Pall Malls and stamps

he sends me postcards

always signed

“Run Like Hell”

and the last time Johnathan said that

somebody died.