3 Comments
User's avatar
Phayvanh Luekhamhan 🍸's avatar

I cleaned the office late this day. Put right things

Where things rightly go

Wiped the desk for the sun’s pink glow

Even sprayed down the keyboard

And dusted for crumbs,

Not a solitary sign or print of thumb

To indicate that I was here

Anywhere everywhere somewhere in this sphere

I ordered the papers just so

This is how things must be before I go

***

Do not believe them when they say

That I was kind, fearsome, or wry

I do not want memorials when I die

I do not want to die

***

Sometimes in darkness or darkened sight

Before the morning birds whet the spring

A shadow comes and with it brings

A breeze so light it breaks

Like April ice, aged and thin

I hope to crack like that—an inevitable caving in

And when that final, final, final day

Arrives, however much I want to stay

And return the books I borrowed,

I'll give in with all my marrow

***

Do not trust desks that are neat and tidy

Do not trust anyone who never cries

I do not want to die

I do not want to die

Expand full comment
Stella and Mark Johnson's avatar

Wow. This was so powerful, Phayvanh. ❤️

Expand full comment
Dina Janis's avatar

so inspiring- particularly in these times

Expand full comment