He was the good son
and brother, as well;

with a hunger for living
he couldn't quite quell;

his life was his family
'til he sent them, away;

my friend Red, cannot come out to play.

~

Quite tortured in life
Red still wore a smile,

inspiring awe
but, that was Red's style;

a sponsor, a mentor,
a student of the day;

Red's hope began slipping away.

~

What I remember of Red is,
he'd never condone,

or explain his behavior
to leave his loved-ones alone;

he could've straightened things out
if he'd had one, more day;

and, that's something my friend Red, would say.

~

Needing answers, and closure
his wife, daughter, and son,

wonder "why" Red gave up
a life, they'd just begun?

Each promise towards sobriety
Red seemed to betray;

now, my memories of Red.....are just, gray.