Poet Matthew Ganem writes the LYRICAL: “I’m a former resident that still hangouts in the city. I have a book coming out in the fall through Books of Hope  based in Somerville. The poem basically describes losing someone that was just with you and some of the stages of grief. Danny Nunes, James Slattery, Stephen Pacheco and Michael Sparks  were close friends that passed away and this is a piece dedicated to them. ”

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The Angels Called Your Number

You were just with me
Living, breathing right here
Now I’m suppose to believe your memory
Is the only way you will reappear
Conversations of the future
Planning out tomorrow
Then it hit me sooner
That death promises only sorrow
Best friends, closer than brothers
We share moments frozen in time
Now the angels called your number
When I wish I could have cut you in line
Tears run rivers of pain
Thoughts of spreading your wings in the sky
All I want is to call out your name
I don’t want to say goodbye
Walking past your family
That treated me as their own
Cuddled by hugs of misery
Scared to go at this life alone
I physically hurt
My heart is broken in two
Now I stand on this earth
I’m here without you
I pictured us with grey hair
Hanging out with our grandchildren
Yelling at them from the porch stairs
Man I hate this feeling
I wish I told you I loved you more
When you were still alive
All I have is memories from before
Moments that will always survive
Looking into pictures of us together
And it doesn’t seem real
We were boys forever
Now we hangout in cemetery fields
I lay in the grass next to you
As the days pass by
Hope your waiting at the vestibule
When I spread my wings to fly
Till we meet again on the other side
We will share this life I live
I still can’t believe you died
It’s me and you forever kid
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– Matthew Ganem

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Doug Holder, 25 School St.; Somerville, MA 02143.
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