Don't Stand So, Don't Stand So

He loved me with all that he was.

I came down hard on his head—both feet.

Free fall.

Sadness and disease filled my lungs

As the world collapsed around my ankles

And shone in a brilliant cascade

Of death and solitude.

Everyone cried.

Everyone cried.

Always.

He loved me with all that he was.

And I always stood in his shadow.

Everything was his shadow.

I could never be him.

I never wanted to be him.

Still, he loved me with all that he was.

As I stood over his lifeless body

Wondering what had gone so wrong

Chaos had ruined me

The disease, in those days,

Was quite prominent.

I hated mirrors; he was in my eyes.

Glowing.

Loving.

Everyone cried.

The world deteriorated on my brow.

I watched children die

In each other’s arms

Mothers forgotten

Fathers fled

And I began to realize the twisted beauty of mankind.

He loved me with all that he was.

His ghost lies within the Queen.

Her eyes hollow, haunted, and gaunt.

He must have surprised her.

I recovered from my surprise quickly

As feeling swept back into my arms

He still loved me with all that he was

Before I died

My face now a gnarled reflection

Of its innocence

I hated mirrors

He watched me breathe

He watched me lie

He watched me collapse

Yet, he still loved me with all that he was.