On the Passing of Jack Gilbert

I think that you would have loved us, Jack.
Maybe her especially.
It’s just a feeling I get.
There was a time two Februaries ago
when you were still alive
and the two of us had broken hearts. 

We read a few of your poems
aloud and it seemed like you knew
a lot about that. Much more than
we did. The Great Fires--Christ
you seemed so hurt and so were
we. But you hung on to love.
An intelligent, forceful, honest
love. Your favorite word was
still ‘heart.’ It made love seem
so promising and resilient that
we bit our bloodied lips and
dove into it, in spite of everything.

Thanks for that, Jack.

Since then, I’ve done some things
that might have disappointed you. Still,
I think you would have liked me
through it all even if you took her
side when there were sides to take.
She moved to Los Angeles a few
months ago, but the night that you died
she called me crying like she had lost a father.

You would’ve loved her, Jack
and she’s going to miss you.

I’m going to miss you, too.