by Lizzie Crotty
the greatest gift in life would be to go before the others
to never have to place a bouquet on a stone carved with too few words
or cry amongst a sea of black
to never be collapsed beside a hospital bed
or hear “we did everything we could”
to never watch their eyes become blank, the windows to their soul sealing shut
or hold a hand that has held too much
until it falls limp
the greatest gift in life would be to never feel that pain
to never think “it could have been me”
and never wish that it was
to never regret having not done enough
and never spend sleepless nights thinking
you could have changed the outcome
the greatest gift in life would be to never have to miss them
to never have to feel sorrow every time you smile at a joke you shared
to never long to feel their embrace and know you cant
to never miss the music of their voice and the aroma of their skin
the greatest gift in life would be to be the first to go
but a gift that can only be given to one
and curses all the others
I wish there could be joy without pain
Life without death
Light without dark
Hope without hopelessness
But they must coexist
Or else blend to nothingness ‘
And feeling nothing is much worse than
feeling it all
