closing in
whispering about my death

I whisper back
“Not yet,
motherfuckers.”

they leave but I know
they’ll return

always do

a few have been with me
since I was a golden child

forever young
never born
lost boy

the rest clung on
along the path

left

forward
never straight

I love some
more than others
but they all
wish me dead

if only for the company

so we need
each other

©2024—JDCIV