CW: queer death

you – see – we hardly knew you

hunched long-backed over yourself

ribs upon ribs upon ribs

dig yourself a home in the dirt

soft sucking heat and see

the way

your palm cups my waist see

the way

your flat feet fit right into mine

come with me – see –

slip your fingers into

the hollows between my fingers

and walk with me for a little while.

we won’t read what they said of you

no – newsprint decays and earthens

into something clean and good and new

and we say

this body is i

we say

i am what i need

so when they cut into me – 

free me into the world

the way

the world freed itself of you –

give your voice to my voice.

i will return it when i join you

in the paper – in the dirt

and i’ll say see –

un-blooded ancestor see

see how i see you

unmarked

i see you

i see you.

Julian Dooley is a writer living and working in his hometown, New York City. He can be reached at @bigboytoadking on twitter.