Quiet
by Tony Hoagland 
Prolonged exposure to death 
Has made my friend quieter.
Now his nose is less like a 
hatchet
And more like a snuffler.
Flames don't erupt from his mouth 
anymore
And life doesn't crack his thermometer.
Instead of 
overthrowing the government
He reads fly-fishing catalogues
And takes 
photographs of water.
An aphorist would say 
The horns of the steer 
have grown straighter.
He has an older heart 
that beats 
younger.
His Attila the Hun imitation 
Is not as good as it used to 
be.
Everything else is better.
************
Hmmm. I wonder why I relate?
 
 
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