Left Behind

 

 

soon you were only the rise and fall

of a close watched chest

an intake of oxygen

a faint hiss of hope

 

and then you were silence

love hung like rain

on the taut stretched moment

before tears tipped and fell

 

and we clung to all the things you used to be

ignored the fading warmth of fingers

the stiffening of skin

crowded the room with memories

as though your final calm was not enough