for the stolen ones....

i started writing a poem down my thigh because i didn't have paper. There has been a lot of sadness around philly and my community. i felt i had to write something down.

ahhh death you rear your ugly head again.
not to take one of mine but one of those in alliance.
you do it just to tease take the innocent with thunder and regret.
you make us blame ourselves,
question our motives,
and shed tears we didn't expect to use for years.
ahhh death you're a tricky one you are. knock us off our toes,
put weapons in the hands of the weak,
to bring the living closer together.
we light candles in the darkness
but we can't ligh candles in our hearts.
i wasn't expecting to see you so soon.
felt like yesterday when he was stolen from the love.
was this some sick reminder that my life is short,
that love is undying
and appreciation can raise hundreds?
with all the pain you caused taking him from us
and her from them,
we are all learning to overcome.
send letters of affection and take pictures of friendships.
join in times of pain and rejoice in our memories.
tattoo love poems down our spines to support our ambition.
ahhh death you slip in and out of life.
i will never forget you and i surely won't get used to you.
for to lay down and take pain is to give up.
moving on, overcoming and remembering
is not the same as accepting and becoming consumed with the concept of you.
i'm choosing to remember and do better.
live out what they were not permitted to do.
most importantly tell those i love what matters most
their presence, even for just a moment, makes my life worth living