I Never Wanted You Dead

Looking to inspiration
and seeing only a match struck
in a dark bathroom mirror.


Huge eyes were cast upon you
and the world swallowed your soul
now you are a sticker,
a scratched vinyl,
an echoing voice
calling forward-
from when you mattered.


Tears won't do a damn thing;
choruses of
Bravo!
Encore!
Encore!
no more
we don't call anymore
and you can't answer.


Questioning beliefs
lead to new questions,
new realizations.
You were never God,
you were never a god-
you were a conduit for grace
talent and
majesty.


As your flesh decays
and your eyes gloss over with grey


I'll stand here
inheriting the spirit
hoping that younger generations
don't move as fast.