“Melt”

You left the diamonds and your favorite keychain at my house

That day they fell out of your pockets.

My advice is, next time don’t swing so high.

Sometimes when Mom is yelling,

I think I can hear you fight back–

Your voice being just an echo

In the slimy cortex

Between my ringing ears

And twisting tongue.

Neither of us are fading; that’s not how life works.

You actually melt–

Picture that Jolly Rancher popsicle you wolfed down.

You’re a candle burning at both end,

A torch lighting it each day,

Shorter, shorter.

All I can say is: don’t you dare melt away before

I can find all the missing marbles from under the couch.