they told me to stop calling the dead
as i whisper your name
inaudible, barely a whisper
i told them
i wasn't calling the dead—
i'm trying to bring it back to life.

they told me to stop calling the dead
almost like a prayer
i repeated your name
i told them
i wasn't calling the dead—
i'm doing myself a favor.

they told me to stop calling the dead
i mumble to myself
slowly as i fall asleep,
i told them
i wasn't calling the dead—
i was calling you.

---

(The dead were once alive; had a heart, had a soul.
*I wasn't calling the dead, because you never had one.)