i can

feel it creeping
rising up again
tattooed in my memory
2 years going on 7
a hundred lifetimes
lived in that breath
his lifetime
breathed into my own
his last breath
etched in my hand
on my cheek
rising beat
ending choking
in my chest
and i still can feel
i feel
the anger my mistakes
my solitude
our redemption
nothing unfinished
his voice
a painting
in my breath
his last breath
i can feel
rise up
ink
on my heart
and i can't
feel
anything else.