• They were never handsome and often came
    with a hormone imbalance manifested by corpulence,
    a yodel of a voice or ears big as kidneys.

    But each was brave. More than once a sidekick
    has thrown himself in front of our hero in order
    to receive the bullet or blow meant for that
    perfect face and body.

    Thankfully, heroes never die in movies and leave
    the sidekick alone. He would not stand for it.
    Gabby or Pat, Pancho or Andy remind us of a part
    of ourselves,

    the dependent part that can never grow up,
    the part that is painfully eager to please,
    always wants a hug and never gets enough.

    Who could sit in a darkened theatre, listen
    to the organ music and watch the best
    of ourselves lowered into the ground while
    the rest stood up there, tears pouring off
    that enormous nose.