they are not mine and never were
who echo still with every step
whose lives are written on my heart
and in whose names I raise my chin
and cliché-cradled carry on
into the dark of that good night:
they are not mine and never were
and still I call them -- call to them --
my dead, my grief, one and the same --
but they are not and never were
and I cannot be you, my loves
cannot continue in your stead
but I can fly the banner still
and -- be myself, my loves, my dead.
I press you gently in my heart
twixt leaves of flesh, with ink of blood
to measure out my memories
against the day that I forget
your voice, your laugh, your too-long step
(forget I will, though I would not) --
still I hold close that which you left:
a word, a herb, a letter (creased
by folding and unfolding it) --
I cannot bring myself to wish
the song unsung, the book unread --
as comfort in my loneliness
I hold you close, my loves, my dead.
who echo still with every step
whose lives are written on my heart
and in whose names I raise my chin
and cliché-cradled carry on
into the dark of that good night:
they are not mine and never were
and still I call them -- call to them --
my dead, my grief, one and the same --
but they are not and never were
and I cannot be you, my loves
cannot continue in your stead
but I can fly the banner still
and -- be myself, my loves, my dead.
I press you gently in my heart
twixt leaves of flesh, with ink of blood
to measure out my memories
against the day that I forget
your voice, your laugh, your too-long step
(forget I will, though I would not) --
still I hold close that which you left:
a word, a herb, a letter (creased
by folding and unfolding it) --
I cannot bring myself to wish
the song unsung, the book unread --
as comfort in my loneliness
I hold you close, my loves, my dead.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-09-21 01:26 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-09-21 01:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-09-21 07:44 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-09-21 05:47 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-09-21 08:14 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-09-21 09:11 am (UTC)