Dear Death
You never said a word to me
She faced you alone, eyes so wide
You pried my fingers apart until she slipped through
I screamed at an empty body
I wasn't ready
You made shadows come alive, days dimmer, nights longer
I cried over missing sounds
I didn't touch that ottoman for a week
I couldn't listen to those songs
I hated that they tried to understand my grief
"She's in a better place" and "I'm so sorry" shoved down my throat
Furious and sick, so sick
She's in a little chestnut box now but I see her
She's behind my eyelids and under the blanket
I swear to God she just went around the corner
I swear to God I heard her call for me
I swear to God she comes out of that little box when I'm not looking
But you don't let me forget
The dreams recede and sanity returns
I can accept her life is over and I am wealthy beyond words for having loved her
I know that when I let go of her, you caught her
She knew love with me
She knows peace with you
I found repose in understanding
You broke the frame and banished the margins
You turned the page and handed me a pen
I won't be so afraid the next time I feel your hands on mine