~for Steve R. & Stephen Y.~

"two regrets are mine -
not finding you earlier in life when...words would have carved for me a better road, and...not hand-ing you a touch, the perfect tightness-shake of one's hand reserved for fondest friends and the light press on one's back deserved for dearest brothers!"
~~~
the light press surety of five fingers on one,
oh, what messages it composes, oh, what duty weighty it transmits

dear brothers:

tho this hands-on handoff, this fly-over, is still a  
mission unaccomplished,
yet no regrets, please!

men don't overuse superlatives,
what you lovingly uncover in my rocket-verbal Mars probes,
is more telling, more revealing of  who you are,
than any hand-tightness shake,
any touching grasp, could e'er convey

yet I promise, forsworn upon the cross
of the north west Pacifico latitude and longitude
a latitude that just happens to intersect
my olden, new english state,
knowing that Interstate 90
a straight transcontinental shot,
and the car keys just an impulse grab away

to tell your arms, your face, your back, our hands,
that when you love my poetry,
you love me,
you friends,
are an affirmation of  Pablo Neruda's words:

"whoever discovers who I am
discovers who you are"

fondness is not distance constrained,
touching grasps pay no obeisance to time,
the honor of your affection permanent
affirmed and enflamed,
all mine, sublime, to lead my heart,
where to lay hands upon your back,
to realize even more
our single united rhyme

When Great
Mystery invites you
At your cherished
Last days to cross
The bridge from
One Sun's realm
To another one ~
All your true beauty
Resplendently reveals
In a hug, in gentle whispers
To our little ones ~ wisdom secrets
Gained within abundant years. . .
And how good they are, bringing
Colourful intuitive drawings
Sweet children's creations
  And suddenly when
You talk with them
I see your older brothers kindness
And his wisdom upon your face
They shimmer with love
And strange silence
Sensing illness
And suffering
Waving goodbye
You give a gentle caress
Removing one untamed tress
From well known forehead
With your beloved tired hand

All that really matters at the end
Is how many breaths you have
From Mother Earth to Ancient Stars
That on your life journey
Good memories
Of blissful moments
Are all that's important
Skiing on sparkling snow slopes
Together, Travelling, having
A great laugh after visiting
Venice and Peggy Guggenheim
Museum, Train moving,
Reading some splendid poems
About life's happiness, homeland, bread,
Mother's love
Grandpa's and Grandchild's
Sacred connection
Singing a native song
About our most cherished tree
A tune you make without words
And you sing with vowel sounds
And we sing with tears in our eyes
Holding hands in silence