Padre Pio fell yesterday…the monk took a tumble from ’round my neck…to the floor where he was swept away with Coke cans…Fritos wrappers…headlines of the day before…

Padre Pio fell yesterday…released into the world…no-longer responsible for my protection…placed in a trash-can and floated down river to a town near Babylon where sinners sin and children cry out in darkness of night…

Padre Pio fell yesterday…left nothing but a trace…a rememberance of how he got there…from travels up and down the East coast…shelters and drop-in centers in the Bronx…brothers serving the afflicted…the poor…pray for us…pray for us…

Padre Pio fell yesterday…only a silver chain remains…and i counted on him to get me through tough times…when the soul and body both hungered…stomach growling…heart hurting…mind weak…

Padre Pio fell yesterday…no-longer will i be able to hold-on to his edged-out face…tarnished beard…rub his robe’s collar…he is gone…he is gone…

Padre Pio fell yesterday …memories remain…mom gave him to me after hearing my stories from the road and how i was taken in at his church where i was fed and clothed…and cared-for…cared-for…

Padre Pio fell yesterday…Padre Pio fell…