Alas, Rapaire, alas, alas,
Taken from life by a passing gas,
Deep in the darkness, swimming free
Like a sperm in singularity.

Long has it been, since he was a sperm,
And now we sigh, and wait, and yearn
For him to once again return,
AS he became when he divided,
Doubled up and multiplieded.

Shoulder the burden, shoulder the pain
Would that it all were new again!
Now through the hole the cutter's blade
Into the rotor-cuff invades,

Now comes the needle, and the thread
Binding the muscles that turn his head
Sewing the ligaments, lean and frayed
That once his noble gestures made,
When he controlled a flashing blade.

Now let the healing slow come on,
The exercises cruel and wan,
The limits of each smallest reach
Like gray whales stranded on the beach.

Alas, alas, for dear Rapaire,
Who once like lightning did declare!
On every whimsy, posts would linger;
But now, he types with half his fingers.

PErhaps he'll fail to post at all!
His voice abandon Mother's hall!
His light abandon all our eyes?
Who shall we use to plagiarize?

Let him grow stronger, is our prayer,
Through the long summer, sure repair
Grow strong and firm, and neatly knit,
We really need his fine Bull Shit.

Winston Sympatico Adrenaline Jr.
Tragic Chemistry and other Splurge
West Miami Beach, 2002