Visitation

Too stubborn to hold your breath
Trying to save all the room inside your chest
Too stubborn to hold your breath

I tried to tell you when you were on the way out
But it always felt like the wrong time
How could I say, “I love you” and not sound
Like I was trying to apologize?

You’re still the only part of myself I like

There was no precedent or manners
But you could still have not said it better
When you were finally released from all bondage
Hand still in mine

And I, for my part, I’ve tried to do a lot
To be the person you saw before I could be
And all the things that came up
And came in between

Cause you’re gone but you’re still not dead to me
Cause death’s familiar but it’s still not family