Jerry Chasen's Blog

One of the earliest pieces I still have. Written for my good friend Robert’s 40th birthday, it is matched in structure with the piece I wrote for his 50th. I had sworn I wouldn’t go to New York to celebrate, in part because of lack of funds. Glad I remembered what was important!

This was my first Holiday poem. My former partner had died a few weeks earlier of HIV. Though we were no longer together, it really hit me hard.