Thoughts of Dennis

Brian and I were talking.
The three of us would walk on the Beach when Dennis lived in Venice and Brian and I would go to see him.We would walk near dark and then go back to the house or room of Dennis and listen to Frankie Lymon Records like Why Do Fools Fall in love an d otheres.Great memories.I really miss his spirit and i miss him in the flesh.I wrote a song about it In The Flesh.
This poem was written in 2000

DENNIS 2000
by
StEPHEN jOHN kalinich

THE SALTY SEA AIR
ENTERS MY LUNGS
I BREATHE ITS COOL FRESHNESS
DECEMBER 28,1983.
17 YEARS FLASH BYE
IN A FLICKERING INSTANT.
I FEEL YOUR PRESENCE
YOUR ALIVENESS
IN THE VOLUMES OF SPACE
AN EERIE FEELING
CREEPS OVER ME
AS I WALK
ACROSS THE SAND
MY BARE FEET BURNING
BECAUSE THE SCORCHING HEAT
TOUCHES
CARESSES MY NAKEDNESS
I HEAR YOUR VOICE AGAIN
THE HEARTY LAUGHTER
THAT IS CONTAGIOUS
I HEAR THE PAIN’AND THE TEARS
IN THAT CRACKED SOUND COMING
OUT OF DAMAGED
VOCAL CORDS
THE NIGHT YOU POURRED
YOUR HEART OUT TO ME.
I TURN TO YOU
YOU ARE NOT THERE
THE GHOST OF YOU
FILLS THE ATMOSPHERE.
TIME DOES NOT EXIST
EVERY MOMENT IS REAL
WITHIN THIS ONE.
YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
MY FRIEND.
CHILDRENS LAUGHTER
ECHOES IN THE WIND.
VIOLINS AND CELLOS
OPEN UP IN THE CATHEDRAL
OF MY BODY.

I MISS YOU
THE YOU OF YOU
THE HUMAN
FLESH AND BLOOD
THE BONES
AND VITALITY.
THIS JOURNEY
THAT WE CREATED IN
THAT OUR PATHS
CROSSED WITHIN
IS ETERNAL-
FOREVER.
SO I WILL NOT SAY
GOOD-BYE
BUT ONLY
WHISPER GRATITUDE
THAT WE COULD
SHARE A FRIENDSHIP
THAT WAS NOT
ALWAYS EASY
BUT VERY REAL.
THE DUSTY BREATH
OF A COUPLE
OF OLD WINOS
DRINKING WHISKEY
FROM A BROWN
CRUMBLED
PAPER BAG
BODIES FULL OF SORES
BLOOD SHOT EYES
STARING INTO EMPTINESS
ONE OF THEM
PLAYING A GUITAR
WITH FOUR STRINGS
ON IT.
HE PLAYS THE SAME SONG
OVER AND OVER.
”YOU’VE GOT TO HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY”
A LITTLE TIN CUP
ON THE GROUND
IN FRONT OF HIM

I WALK BYE
AND THROW IN
A FEW COINS
DENNIS WHERE ARE YOU?
WHERE DID YOU GO?
DENNIS I LOVE YOU.

WHAT IS LEFT OF YOU
BUT THE SEA
AND A REMEMBRANCE
OF THINGS THAT WERE
AND THINGS WISHED FOR
DESIRED.
DENNIS I LOVE YOU.
DENNIS I LOVE YOU.