Dunbar Hunter - The Genie - 2014

a tribute to Robin Williams... so sad...

It was August 11th, a Monday like any other Monday 

His personal assistant had worked her way through the front doorway

After her knocking was met without reply 

The furthest thing from her mind was to suspect suicide 

Then she went inside 

I was staying a few nights at my parents' house in Ossining 

When we heard the news about Robin Williams' untimely passing 

Ever since I was a kid we would turn on the TV 

When we sat down for dinner to eat as a family 

It kept us company 

But his death was so fresh in our minds that evening 

That instead we thought it would be best to put on one of his old movies 

So we scoured the whole house and parsed our way through all the DVDs 

Though we had many we came up with nothing 

So I got in my car and drove to the library 

I started browsing 

When a sinking feeling started to overtake me 

There was a gap where Aladdin should be 

There was a gap where Jumanji should be 

And Dead Poets Society 

And Hook, Patch Adams 

All were absent 

And so I went home empty handed 

I went back to my mom and dad and 

We didn't watch TV that night 

We didn't watch anything that night 

There was one time I was on vacation with my parents in Palm Springs 

I was dealing with a lot back then, I think I must have been fifteen 

I fastened a belt to the closet hanger rod 

And I was getting light headed, then I chickened out 

And I got myself down 

And it's been ten years since then and I still struggle with the same demons 

And Robin Williams was too before the poor bastard let them beat him 

Maybe he never had a friend like the one he had been to me 

When I was growing up alone and he was the Genie 

He could do anything 

And I wish he experienced even half the joy he brought to me 

There was a gap where Aladdin should be 

Where Mrs. Doubtfire should be 

The Birdcage and Good Will Hunting 

Baron Munchausen 

Were all absent 

They had already been checked out 

By people like me who had gone out 

Who weren't ready to say goodbye yet 

Who still aren't ready to say goodbye yet

credits