Gregory

Janine Pommy Vega

I.
Cleanshaven, cleared away, like a baby
tucked in bed with undressed eyes
a cold drink from a deep well
to see you
first friend in early teenage years
in New York City,
Paris, San Francisco, London
friend snatched back from the bony doorway

jewel at the heart of a room full
of people, rose on the pillow
I'm reading your poems again
twisty pronouncements, singing lines
words that float like birds on the water
how much you've changed the language
& the premise of speech

how without hesitation, all these years
you jumped in first, not
testing the waters
but to see
if the waters were ready for you.

— Horatio Street, NYC, August 17, 2000

II.
Someone said your ashes should be scattered
over Shelley's grave, someone said
you wanted to be buried in Potters Field
because nobody goes to see those folks
Irvyne says you're all together now, the whole crew
you Jack Allen Huncke Neal
Jack Micheline Ray Bremser

You were the one who brought me into that
circle of men
from whom I gathered
what l did
you were the one who gave up your time
who shared your readings, who
insisted I learn Roman history

you taught us the usage of my
as though everything of consequence
sprang first from the poet's lips
calling Gilgamesh Gil Baby
calling Roger & Irvyne's apartment
my old neighborhood, calling
Allen, my Allen; Andy, my Andy

I was planning to fly out and
see you, to stay at your house
there were two modes
I knew you in: loving and ruthless
we met in both camps
through years of bad boy sacred clown
shout-downs, dozens of readings

on Horatio Street surrounded by friends
you were glad of time left, I told you
the story of Fernando in Paris
after his paintings were hung in Musee
de I'Homme, and you wildly disagreed
with one corner of the painting, how he
snuck in with a paint bucket, and changed it

at exactly the moment you died
I was planning my flight out
to see you, so perhaps
we were meeting, my messenger
at the gate, my mentor, my partner
in crime, my Gregory
my friend.

— Willow, NY; January 18,2001

c.2001