he loves to tell a joke
in high school, he’d laugh and sway
until he was sick with humour
breathless in the hallway
now he starts every talk the same
have you heard the one about...
the latest headline a political name
Trump or a scandal
he speaks of the world and current events
then shifts to a song perfectly on key
his fingers find the chords by instinct
shaping the air with a melody
he’s the first at the door of the hospital room
bringing the light when the walls are grey
armed with a joke to scatter the gloom
and chase the heavy silence away
a lifelong friend
I’ve heard them all and I’ve heard that
