Carey
I don't remember all the stories
that you told us
only that they were about
newspaper men
when they were
chain-smoking drunks
and they were all men
but they told great stories.
All the old great ones are dying
and I wonder
who the great new ones will be.
Now you are gone, too
and I wonder
why I didn't know
I would miss you
so much
and I wonder
if they'll talk about you
when they talk about
the great ones.
I know I will
though I never read a word
you wrote for UPI
I know you were great
for teaching us all
to remember.
Originally appeared November 18, 2002.