his breath lay deep on my chest
cutting it open bit by bit
the ice cold air blending
with his boiling breath
as it ended my lungs
I began to dissolve
his breath was like acid
ready to eat me alive
and indeed it did

i want to pour you
into my favorite mug
savor your warmth
and drink up your love

you are my daily
cup of sweet, warm tea
i never need to add
honey or sugar to

you are all i need
to wake up in the
early, quiet morning
you are all i ever need

you are not dead to me
you live in the sun and the moon
the walls and the floors
the food and water

you are very much alive
i hear you in the songs I sing
i smell you in the food I eat
i feel you in the air I breathe

you did not die
you are gone
but you are here
you are still alive

i realize that i can't breathe
and it us all because you are gone
but sometimes i realize
that one day i won't feel this pain
i won't feel this destruction
i won't miss you as much
and then maybe i can breathe
for the first time since you've been gone.

i know
you have
her now
but i
can't let
you go
i can't
drop you
i must
hold on
to what
we may
have
        i
                  can't
                      ­               drop
                                                        you.­

it's ok
i'm ok
i'll be ok

you're ok
life's ok
they're ok

weather's not ok
sky's not ok
i'm not ok.

a.s.