These Be The Names Frank Blanco Mikel Blue Michael Apuzzo Maria Prophet Benjamin J. Santiago David Lee Mandell, Jr. Timmy De Franco these be the names of those common people who died of AIDS there are many more than these out there but only their families pused to take note Rock Hudson Freddy Mercury Arthur Ashe Liberace these be the names of those famous who died from AIDS there are more out there but we looked the other way as they died Kimberly Bergalis this be the name of an ordinary woman who caught AIDS unaware and yet she died as a fighter who tried to awaken us to the cost of this plague Ryan White this be the name of a courageous young boy who first suffered with hemophilia and then with AIDS caught from a blood transfusion he struggled for love and understanding but only found fear and hatred in the town he's from and a country struggled to wake to know but most people still did not care Randy Shites this be the name of a man who wrote of a cover up some people noticed some people cared and the band played on as even he died of AIDS _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ these be for the names of people you know or your friends and family know who died of AIDS if it stays blank you're lucky but as time goes by it will be filled in as the plague expands Don Shireman Jeff. . . . (I don't know his last name) these be the names of those I personally know of who died from AIDS they touched my friends and family but others did not care there will be other names added to these lists WHILE THE BAND PLAYS ON Paul Vernon Deffendall December 1, 1996 PREVIOUS POEM NEXT POEM BACK TO FADED GLORY
