For Reem
the soft of your voice
the warm of your touch
my mother that never had a child of her own
sleeping over in the bed
of my very best friend
reading straight from your head
a bedtime story—
you knew would never end
a clueless kid of seven springs
I watched as monsters entered
wrapped their claws around your waist
digging for what purifies your blood
now poison runs through your vessels
hospital nights spent
in your gown of white
left a man in his suit
two months before your wedding
a work of art—
an artist
joined the 27 club
now I mourn memories I have forgotten
missing you for longer than I had known you
posting words I bled
in the way you did
drawing demons unnamed
like your paintings I saved
watching cartoons all night
like we used to
I can tell they see you in me
how strange grief is
it sits on an autumn leaf
waiting for the soles of walkers
to hear it in the crunch
it hides beneath the dark of night
seekers only find its glow
when peaceful enough to look
it’s patient as fruit in a basket
ripening with pungency year by year
reeking of mold to be noticed
3/11/2025