milk teeth

poem

I cut my milk teeth on you 

know better now,  yes

I have nothing to lose

you danced through this life 

like you had something to prove

and I danced with you

the soldier's gift of suffering too


In becoming myself I planted seeds

saw the grandeur in a life worth trying, 

at least, to have said "I was here. I was real"

if the laws of a second death are binding

say my same, say it loud, say it screaming
 
when I'm gone, but don't you dare grieve me

every time you say my name

 that's one more breath for me to breathe in