Growing up My most valuable lessons Were engraved by a man, Whose demons— Were his downfall. His warm goofy humor And thoughtful voice Never once showed the downside Of living the life, Of a party animal. I would sneak upstairs To stay up late—there he was. This is where our spirits Would ascend As his would rapidly descend Crashing and burning He had a smile So contagious, You could catch it. How a glove Hugs a baseball. His words— Were always unorthodox, But they were as clear As the sun smiling, Off his bald head. Before we departed, there was one last lecture From an instructor Enslaved to his life. I was told To never settle To stay stern And to stay grounded. As if he knew his time, Was ticking. Next time I saw him He was dressed With a suit Rested— silk black coffin. As he laid to rest, they called him an addict. A failure. They gawked, But I wept. I could only recall— My eternal mentor.