In Memoriam
we live in
a boneyard — no, a
battlefront — no, a Children's
Crusade. — no, no,
no. there are no words
for something
that was once
alive. and isn't that
a weak word, too, alive.
it just survives, no spark
of living.
you should have left a
dent in history — the world
should have trembled
before your name. yours.
you should have been
a god, a woman, anything
but a martyr.
no world could keep you;
no grave can hold you.
if you were
alive,
you would be like
the rest of the living —
which is to say
so much death,
so much knowing,
so much life
knowing death.
and spring would not come early
and flowers would not bloom
before your feet.
tautology, i know.
i'm sorry, leelah.
#poetry