This poet can appreciate
the sentiment behind
"hoping you die before
you get old"
and leaving a world
that feels deaf to your art
before you resign yourself
to them.
Twenty years on
we have new photos
of your death
and the world
the world is wiser
and not.
You did what you thought
was right at the time
and we understand why
while still missing you terribly
and wishing we could
talk with you.
This poem © 2014 Emily Cooper.
