>taken (about aids)

she sits in the car
hard vinyl comfort
young girl
head turned to stare at the green outside
hair flying in the breeze
as she hears
that he has died.
aids, her father says.
happens to most gay men, her father says,
not realizing she never knew.
Wind blows silent tears
mixing with the sudden rain
that mars the green landscape
turning it the same gray as her thoughts
thinking memories
he’s gone
why is she still here?

10/30/98

>back to the book.