Richard.

Today,

I was thinking

about how nice

it would be to see you.

I could use your advice.

You lived a thousand days

and still,

in the end,

you were content

and kind.

I often wonder how you kept

your heart so soft.

Maybe,

we could stroll down the avenue,

as if we were the water of a creek

slowly finding its way down the quiet forest.

We could pause

now and again

just to admire the comfortable little homes,

and wonder

what the lives were like inside.

We could talk about the weight of living,

and I would listen to the words you chose

to share with me

as if my life was dependant

on my remembering them.

I wish you could see what I'm like now.

I'm all grown up

and I am sorry to report

I don't wear that red cape,

or the mask made of paper anymore.

I'm not sure why,

I guess my heart is just too busted up

for that type of behavior.

I wish I could ask you how to deal with heartbreak.

I wish you could teach me what you know

about being gentle

in a violent world.

Because only heros know how to do that.

When I wore those paper masks,

I was pretending to be

Batman,

or Superman

or any other number of heroes.

But,

Deep down,

I always knew

you

were the real hero.

I wish you could show me

how to be one too.

The way you use to tell me what the tools in your garage did.

See,

I've been trying

to make my cape real

ever since you had to go.

But,

most days,

I make a mess of things.

Maybe I still wear

a paper masks

after all.

Damn it,

it would be so nice to see you.