[▶] for safekeeping.

granted

everything you were is
burned into the back of my mind like searing steel and soldering iron

i try to skip the rocks but my feet fall through the cracks instead
shallow river turned to plunging ocean
i sink deeper, helpless endeavour
bubbling hope leaking out of my lips rising to the surface

honeycomb quickly rotting
beeswax turned to coffin glue
i never know what to do with myself anymore
riverside screams in silent seagulls' dying
crows envelop the sidewalk in a cape of black

i used to be able to sing
that stone bridge in the forest
crossing, hundred-acre-wood
dropping sticks in the river and watching them sail
you were always sailing out of sight
mine stuck around.

whistle bird clocks of gear
dusted history and ancient library
thistledown turned to haystack
midas touch ruined by tarnished silver
rusting water
trickling, stiffened hourglass

and yes, maybe its selfish
to wish you were here with me
i look at the girl in the mirror and
suddenly everything i thought she was
falls through and gives way to shambles
i have successfully deceived
even myself
did i really think i was
that beautiful

no, scratch that
this isn't a reflection
give me the hammer and I'll shatter it
i'll keep fighting with every last
exhale of air in my lungs
because at the very least

if i won't be around to last
if seeing it through is no longer
something i can do
i'll make damn well sure
the works i leave behind
scream for me
for as long as their ears start to bleed
and the nails on the chalkboard become
daggers and my
whispers torture and invade
every waking and sleeping dream

if i can't be around to make that legacy
i'll let everything i've done fight for me.