On! On!

Foo-Man, 22,
blew out smoke
shook his match
looked me in the eye and said:
If this thing doesn’t work, Kev,
I’m going there to die

We didn’t know it
but adolescence
was already dead
Next of Kin to be informed

Brother David, 24,
the looker of the two
stared in anguish
at the floor
seeing no way through
Leapt from his pain

Stan, 82,
never grew old in his lifetime
as other dads
aged and died
Might be why I still can’t
take it in my stride

Little Andrew, only 8,
wobbled off his bike
into heavy traffic
Given 50/50 odds
wobbled off his life
Never bet against the gods