graduation poem

i stand in the cold gray weather
shadows lay along broadway
my mother taught me that every night
i love my life, but not too well
the rain was over, and the brilliant air
muffled drum's sad roll has beat
she said
beautiful
friend, whose smile has come to be
just now
love me at last, or if you will not
in and of itself
see, from this counterfeit of him
before the solemn bronze saint