Enlisted as of September 12, 2001

He told me over the phone
like a telemarketer explaining how
the fixed rate can save me 5%
on my next long-distance bill.

And he was suddenly six years old
climbing my mother’s tree
to collect crab apples
for pitching practice,
convincing me to ignore the incessant call for dinner
and continue our game of man-hunt until after dark.

Then he was twelve
riding the lawn mower from house to house for money
imagining he was riding a horse,
taking me for rides in July twilight,
collecting arrowheads I didn’t want
but he always gave me for my birthday.

And then I his voice dragged me to now, at eighteen,
talking like a businessman
rather than a best friend,

“so, goodbye.”