i saw you shine
a world away, beyond every dead star
blood in your teeth
biting on words you wish you'd never spoken
cutting into that part of you that's hidden

your eyes punished me for dreaming
every door slammed in my face
every phone shattered against the wall
is that how you want to be remembered?
can i write about who you really were now?
about the glass on the floor
and the hands around my neck
about the summer rain we drowned in
the flowers blooming from your throat
choking on love spilling off your tongue,
this is who we really were
saving smiles for when the door closed.

you were so bright,
so bright i couldn't see
but so dark i couldn't breathe
you took the light and dark from me
you mixed them up until i couldn't choose.
your hands moved so fast
hiding the pieces i needed
"left or right?"
frantically, i tried to remember
but you lifted both hands and there was nothing.