Words of a Poet

It was interesting to see that someone had googled “Matt Henrickson + Poetry“. Well if you were looking for me, you found me. After checking the same results, I found another website with my name on it. It is an angelfire website about Brandon Vigil. He was a friend I grew up with since I was about 5. He was murdered in 2003, and I wrote a poem for him and his family when I was 16. I want to share that here.

“Upward Bound”

Words won’t come out in the way I want them to
No words can describe you
I know you wanted so much more here
And what you accomplished will remain clear
We didn’t get a goodbye
But when we cry
It’s tears of love for you
After all you’ve been through
All I can believe is your struggle has come to an end
I will always think of you as more family than friend
What keeps me sane is the thought of you in a better place
With that smile on your face

It was a privilege to have known you
And to grow up with you
And to look up to you
You weren’t the Brandon that was here not too long ago
You were the Brandon when we shared our first hello
When we all would play football in the street until dark
Or when we played baseball all day at the park
Or when you became my hero and taught me to ride a bike
It’s hard to think back to what you were like

You will be in my prayers tonight

I hope you made it to heaven all right

Rest In Peace

By Matthew Henrickson

BRANDON CHRISTOPHER VIGIL
March 25, 1985 – January 21, 2003

“In loving memory of Kim Walter’s 17 year old son Brandon, who was tragically found on the roadside, brutally murdered.

This wonderful poem was written by Brandon’s childhood friend
Matthew, age 16 years. Kim wrote how it is such a beautiful dedication, of how Brandon touched his life.

She will cherish it always.”