a kindness
this agreeing to be
those who were mine
forgiven
forgiving
on behalf of the missing
and absent
and gone

be everyone to me

smooth the sheets
crackle water over ice
slice the stems
at sharp angles
to better gasp
at death
through straws

even-numbered
promises of faithlessness
list along
my days
I need to remember
always start
from apathy

be everyone to me
amongst the petals
until I’ve forgotten

who are you

she loves me

you love me

not

.