In Power, In Peace (9.19)

all my memories

of you are dipped gold

they head nod in toothy

smile, hug, with fist bump,

visions of you greet me at

nightfall & day

meet me at the punch

out alone.

you’re a brilliant orange

when I dream of

you, friend — still

the flyest kind of fresh,

baddest to ever

never fake, not once.

i miss you most when

I touch down eastside. when

my skin and campus kiss,

and i catch a glimpse of past

yard walks in the distance

the beau and you were goals

before that was

a thing. you remember?

we were supposed to

write together now I

play your poems

from memory on

repeat.

yours was a sudden drop

with a release date only you

and God knew.

we all play your

mixtape to touch you.

we breathe your every word

like feelings.

you’re asleep MJP,

while we’re all

holding

your light.