My friend

Bobby used
to cut himself
when we
were kids
now he
sells life
and auto
insurance

wondering daily
which is worse

my friend
Abbie teaches
college intro
to fiction
and poetry
classes she
says she
fails anyone

who wants
her to read
their work
says it’s better
they learn early

my friend
Andy spent
20 years
in the Army
reserve he
deployed
to both
Iraq and
Afghanistan

and now
carries a
handgun
even in church

my friend
Jose is
an orphan
who lost
both parents
to drug overdose

he celebrates
the Mexican
day of the dead
by throwing
stones at
their tombstones

and my
friend Michael
was the youngest
of thirteen
children who
became a
Catholic priest

he says
he can
help save
any of us
if we
would only
listen.