Premiere Contest WinnerUnstretched: 9 Mm of Metal

I remind her of her best friend.
He died last year.
It amazes me how little metal is necessary
To kill a boy turned man too soon.
Only 9 mm.

She says my voice,
The way I move are one and the same as the way he once was.
I do not wish to be so relatable to the dead.

She looks at me sometimes
And I know she does not see my eyes,
Only his inscribed over my features.
Her face breaks on my laugh;
I echo his ghost and I don’t want to haunt her anymore.

She grows inward every day-
I try to show her the sun but all she sees are the clouds on the horizon.

She doesn’t sleep.

I teach myself her habits
So I can be with her at four in the morning
When she has finally fallen unconscious but the nightmare of his BANG!
Ricochets off from her memory and wakes her once more-
The blood spatter from his letter dissolving into her sheets,
Their bed.

It’s been a year:
So much time wasted over something as small as 9 mm of metal.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

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Kimathi Avatar
July 6, 2017 at 7:17 AM
What a deep, emotional verse.... I'm glad that this message has placed No.1 spot in the contest. Congrats Alex, for your well-deserved WIN!!
Grimm Avatar
July 6, 2017 at 8:42 PM
Thank you Teddy!
Neumann Avatar
July 6, 2017 at 2:24 AM
Your message is sad , daunting and clear. Thank you for looking after a broken soul. Maybe your friend can heal. This is a great description of the 'situation' and the pain and waste, and sadly of life for many of us. Take care my friend and many wishes, Kai
Grimm Avatar
July 6, 2017 at 8:43 PM
Maybe. I keep hoping. Thank you Kai
Hamilton Avatar
July 5, 2017 at 9:14 AM
Wow Alex this is a powerful piece, well written, draws the reader in immediately, congrats on a fine win!
Grimm Avatar
July 5, 2017 at 11:16 AM
Thank you too, I wrote this poem last year while dealing with a friend's suicide. It means a lot to me that you guys think I conveyed that well.
Raynes Avatar
July 4, 2017 at 9:56 PM
This poem worked for me so much Alex, sucked me right in to the end, such a tragic tale. congratulations on your first place in this contest.
Grimm Avatar
July 4, 2017 at 10:04 PM
thank you so much!
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