"Your Socks," a poem by Jess Coffman

I wore your socks today.

The black dressy ones you left behind. 

I wanted to feel close to you,

To be Loyal to us. 

I knew you felt fancy

when you wore them.

And I fantasized that maybe, 

a little bit of your joy was still there. 

A little bit of the old times.

The fun times.

when we danced with freedom, and drank on someone else's dime.

When our whole bodies were made of smiles.

I prayed that just one, would be in there. 

And it was! 

That beautiful smile, unparalleled. 

That smile that took up your whole face. 

And I was so comforted to be in it. 

I could bare another day. 

But at some point in my comfort, 

It slipped beneath me.

Unwittingly, 

I crushed it all day.

so gracefully. 

Till there was nothing left but traces of a flattened smile. 

Passion shriveling, 

Compassion hardened with the distance.

I was exhausted, 

and couldn't shoulder the weight for one more day. 

But dancing, trudging, resting and weeping today in your socks, 

made me absolutely ache for you. 

The gentlest of men. 

I want nothing more than your smiles to return to you. 

And your Happy to rival the California sun. 

I'll never know how it feels to be in your shoes.

But I know exactly now how it feels, 

To miss you in your socks. 

JESS COFFMAN

For Smoe.

You're in my heart for life.