It was the day I didn't make it to the big
demonstration in The City
It was the day I read a poem about the war
at the Berkeley Poetry Festival
It was the day I was given a book of Basho's hiaku
It was
the day that Ronald Reagan died

It was the day that Benito and Cliff and I
would sit by the creek and chart the revolution
It was a day in dress rehearsal for Summer-
all blue sky and sunshine
It was the day I learned where the key to the restroom at the
North Berkeley Peet's Coffee was kept
It was the day I finished reading "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues"
It was the day we all felt that
the time before us was hull of hope,
destiny,
and change.

It was the day that Ronald Reagan died.