I have been so afraid of being forgotten.
Replaying every conversation,
Every mistake,
Picking it apart until I am convinced
That I am nothing special.
For many years I tried to make myself
Larger and more elaborate than life.
But it was exhausting,
And eventually I became resigned to it -
The fact that people only know me
When I am standing right there.
Excuse me now, I'm going to speak to myself.
Feel free to take it to heart.
Don't you know that people think about you all the time?
Last night you ran into two old friends
Who said they had just been talking about you.
People go about their week
And they think of your face
And they smile.
Something reminds them of you
And they smile.
They carry advice you have given them
Or a random snippet that you said
Or a joke that you told
With them always.
They wonder how you're doing
Even if they say nothing.
They marvel at your passion.
You have made an impact on them,
And this is not news.
This is not your first life here.
People can scoff,
But it changes nothing.
Don't you know that you changed
This nation?
When you died,
Your greatest enemies
Were shaken to their core.
The men you fought with most
Carried your wisdom forever,
Even if they fought to bury it.
You are unforgettable.
Then,
Now,
And forever.
JE LEEST
Survive: Collected Poems
Poëzie~WATTY'S 2019~ ~NOTICE~ AS OF 2/3/19, THIS COLLECTION HAS TOO MANY PARTS! READ VOLUME 2, THRIVE, OUT TODAY! On the pain, love, and passion that makes me human. Potential swearing, mentions of suicide, self harm, depression, rape, etc.
