preparing for the unknown
he died in Vatican City on vacation
courtesy of a one-way ticket
purchased by an unknown agent
everyone seemed to know him
whether in Hollywood or
Mumbai or Ho Chi Minh City
born to the slums of Lebanon
it was a miracle he ever set sail
beyond the Mediterranean
his most youthful days gave way
to urban sand lots on Saturdays
playing host to cricket or fútbol
or american baseball
without a home there is no heart
especially before going to war
or so he wrote
about being reborn
about taking Waterloo by storm
about stepping out of the theatre
and coming back to earth
for that
once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage
march two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
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