mom died of an overdose
one by one
the kisses came after the casket was lowered
black cardigans and white corsages
suits with off-white button downs
my brother holding his head with his hands
i raised my knees to my face
and dug my teeth into the fleshiest part of my knee
the distance around the soul
of the passing and after-lifing
i buried my eyes
and dropped to the ground
people swarmed and embraced my torn skirt
if i knew of a hope
one less likely or true
more like prat-falling on my sword
i promised our sister I'd be an easy chair
i promised myself I'd stay until the Day i died
we need to keep secrets
mom should have died so long ago
glad she's finally gone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
sick of feeling sorry for dead little yellow birds
because we cannot resuscitate a hung man
or bring to life a dead thought
like these days will be the death of us
children with toy guns
and tree branch swords
we shall celebrate our beauty
because grace is about doing things unmerited
like when you gave me a kiss on the cheek
or when your mother send me a valentine on Halloween
we can never have a second chance
for the only time we have is forever
the things we were, we are
the things that make us, us; make us nothing.
let's set this gazebo on fire
let's cry to the sound of the funeral procession
this is our day
to be unmade
like the bed your grandfather left before he passed on.
