Introduction:

        Since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, 60 million people have been infected and 25 million have died. The AIDS epidemic began in 1981. In this woven poem collection are four poems. This collection surrounds the poem Please Don't Cry by Joe Green. The surrounding poems are Stage 5  by Michaela Oh, The Death Of Thee's Lover by Ike Thomas, and Death Of A Lover by Velia Espinoza. The theme of this collection is a girl who lost her lover due to AIDS. Her lover was born with the infection and lost his battle at seventeen years old.

The Poem Collection:

In darkness creeps my misery,
I often wonder where he's now.
I look at the vain, think of happiness
It just doesn't work...
I can't express my misery,
For he is gone and never back to fill my heart with joy and love.

My heart is pounding...
My tears are pouring...
Although, he once said to me,

"Please don't cry, I'm not really gone.
When you look out the window
I'll be standing on the lawn.

Please don't cry, I'll see you again.
Don't be sad, keep up your chin.

Please don't cry, I'm not really dead.
When you cry yourself to sleep,
I'll be by your bed.

Please don't cry, just because we had to part.
As long as you remember me,
I'll live in your heart.

Please don't cry, I'm not gone forever.
I'll be a cool breeze in hot summer weather.

Please don't cry, don't run and hide.
When you need a shoulder to lean on,
I'll be by your side.

Please don't cry, when you're sad and weak
I'll be there
To kiss you on the cheek.

Please don't cry, this is just a goodbye.
So please, oh please.
Baby, do not cry."

You're in my dreams, my mind.
I know you're right next to me, right here, right now.

Although my heart may sting and ache
You are always by my side.

However, I need you like an ocean needs it's tide.
I always thought we would live this life together, hand in hand.

Darling, I love only you.
We were the perfect two.