Jackson...

The person that I knew since I was a kid.
The person that I grew up with.
We'd kick it from sun up to sun down.
He was the person that I wanted around.
A couple years ago things didn't go right.
And it all happened overnight.
News hit the valley like there was no tomorrow.
Left it in pain and sorrow.
Cancer was the news.
When I heard it I didn't know what to do.
I didn't want to believe that it was true.
The word cancer rang in my head.
And I didn't like where it lead.
The news didn't effect him.
He didn't let it get under his skin.
I couldn't believe my eyes.
And to my surprise.
There he was...standing tall.
And not about to fall.
He was still smiling and not about to go down.
Every once in awhile he'd frown.
But it didn't keep him down.
I didn't let it get to me around him.
...Not him...never him.
I faked my smile.
I faked my laugh.
I waited to see if it would pass.
Time went by slow.
And little did I know.
Six months later in Seattle.
Six months later still in the battle.
He fought the best he could.
And he did pretty good.
There isn't a day that I wish he was here.
He faced death without any fear.
He wasn't scared.
Wasn't ever scared.
I wish I had the strength he did.
The person that I knew since I was a kid.