When I’m Gone

Rest-in-peaces and prayers

For a bit, memories will hang around

The weird-guy smiles in private thoughts

The name popping up in contexts found

Exaggerated virtues raised on pedestals

Uncomfortable beliefs buried deeper

The thoughts I so want growing up

But of which am just the keeper

Those are what I’d love to see

Be what I continue to live on in

Not my name, or form, framed, forgotten —

the easy bits that need nothing.

Take the thoughts, the fire

Add questions, add fuel, grow it

Take the little seed you find

Ready the forest soil and sow it

I borrowed, stole ideas, rehashed them

Do that, please, to mine

Keep the tougher asks of myself especially

The motherhood ones will do fine

It’s why my time on the timeline

Will add to some tomorrow

It’s how I’d rather exist forever

Not in memories of the I.

Not laughter, nor sorrow.