The Circle

We all face each other
The sun going down
Not as wide a circle as it used to be
Nowadays a bit winded
The hike from Round Top Drive
Up to this grassy place harder
Jerry, his best friend among us, says
“Kenji called this place ‘Little Denver’
It reminded him of the field behind his home
But he loved Hawai’i more
Made it his home because he fit in better
Looked like more of the people here”
He pauses, his voice catching
“I loved him more than like a brother,” Jerry says
“And coming to this place
Will always connect him to me more than family”
He raises his beer, as do we
“Here’s to Kenji and to us, the ones still here
And to all of those who’ve left us”