Love would have lasted,
maybe forever—but you did not,
not even as the ghost that you
became when you were shot.

One final glowing kiss
and off you went to glory land,
no more sweet moments
guiding clay-slick hands,

no more whispered words
of love, however faint.
No more cute phantom;
arrivederci, hunky haint.

You're gone now, and our
memories grow hazy.
You were what we knew of love.
We'll miss you, Patrick Swayze.

Aaron Belz teaches English at Providence Christian College in Los Angeles, California. His second collection of poetry, Lovely, Raspberry, is due out this winter from Persea Books.

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