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