I Remember the Man

I remember the man. He is the best friend that one could ever have, he truly knows me like the palms of his hands; through thick and thin he is always there for me - I remember the man. When I come up with lines that perfectly rhyme he says “Gee, you are the greatest poet alive!”; when I mess up ‘It’s good for the competition’ - the man is my biggest fan. He is my toughest critic and taskmaster, not content to see me rest on my laurels, but he does it with love shining on his face - how I love the man. After each fall he is there to pick me up, when I’m up he pushes me even higher; to him there is nothing that I could not do - I appreciate the man. To him this fool could not make any mistake yet when I’m down he rushes to lend a hand, forcing me to rise up and fight like a man - I remember the man. When I sin he says “It’s alright, just move on but make a pledge to do good next time, son, shape up, you can be a much better person” - that man, he understands. At times when I’m too drunk he sobers me up, when I forget to zip up, he rushes to zip me up, when I stink he drags me to the nearest shower - he cares for me, that man. Through every heartache he is there to listen, through each pain he is the first one to worry, in my triumphs he advertises my every glory - how can I thank the man? When I was younger, brash and impulsive, he would whisper “Slow down a bit, kiddo” but now that I’m older he says to work faster - I can’t understand the man. In my youth 'You’ll make Cary Grant insecure' now that I’m old 'You look better than Redford!' His belief in me is something I’ve never seen - God, how I love the man. As I face a new day I pause to give praise to the most devoted friend that I ever had; thank you, buddy, for being there for me - you're a beautiful man. I remember me.