Gone

tony travels

eats noodles

drinks beer

jokes with dishwashers

has tattoos

and a girlfriend

except that he doesn't.

not anymore.

tony cusses

wears t-shirts

writes books

likes to smoke

stars on tv

and tells stories

except that he won't.

not anymore.

tony cooks

advocates

champions

motivates

inspires

and connects

except that he can't.

not anymore.

tony seems happy

except that he's not.

could not hold on.

so we mourn

memorialize

eulogize

celebrate

and hold memory close

because tony is gone.