I never would have had the nerve br when you were around... br With your bright mind, br and your academic prowess br and your acerbic br (adorable) br wit. br br A wordsmith par excellence - br published no less - br you penned br persuasively, br pedagogically, br perspicaciously. br (I often needed a dictionary) br br I never would have had the nerve br when you were around... br so I hid in the shadow br of your intellectual rigor, br typing your scrawl br (you should have been a doctor) br and offering you br draft after exhaustive draft br until it was perfect. br br I never would have had the nerve br when you were around... br but you're not here any more br are you? br And I am learning, br day by day br to tell MY story.