My memories of him are divided
between the person here and now
from the way that he was before.
The multi-faces and lives of Little Ronnie.
Little Ronnie could light up the sky
with youthful curiosity
marked with a mischievous smile.
No rock would be unturned
to see what was there
and what would happen
when the unknown was felt.
Little Ronnie’s parents
would show up to everything
even when he did not
wish for them to be there
or when Little Ronnie
did not want to be there himself.
Support was always there.
Little Ronnie never went without.
He had a little of everything;
however, he had to earn it.
His parents saw to that,
but Little Ronnie was the coolest.
Little Ronnie was the master
at keeping the attention
while he was either quiet
or plotting the irrational.
Any personality could appear
at any given trigger.
Little Ronnie was blessed
with a great work-life
after college.
Getting the first opportunity
that seemed to be handed
to his open arms.
The envy of us all.
I went away for a while.
What I saw when I came back.
The mind cannot register.
The eyes do not believe.
Little Ronnie was a shell
of the person I used to know.
The pristine hair, now long
to go with a patchy beard.
Little Ronnie
did still dress
with the latest fashions.
So crisp and clean
to cover the skeleton
that was underneath.
So very thin.
At twenty-six, Little Ronnie
was living at home.
Know the plan was to live
with his high school sweetheart.
Heard she was nowhere to be found.
Rumour was his hyper behaviour
got worse, and she got scared
then found him with two others.
A couple who wanted fun.
She was done at the sight.
With his lady gone
no one could or would
help with controlling his money.
Little Ronnie went through it
as fast as he earned it.
The finest clothes
and the cheapest street drugs.
It got worse for Little Ronnie
after an emotional outburst
at his workplace.
Another gentleman met his
hidden strength and wrath.
Without a job, the small place
where Little Ronnie did live
kicked him out.
The whispers was that
the little apartment took
two months to fully fix.
Broken walls, soiled carpets.
Little Ronnie’s childhood home
was the only place that
would take him with the erratic mind.
The hope was to get him
back onto the proper drugs
to calm his mind and body. </