Written After Sitting in a Dusty Closet with You for Two Hours During the Super Bowl

You’ve been holding onto life with white knuckles

Embarrassed by the shaking effort

But the shaking effort is the bravest kind

-it’s what’s kept you here

I will sit with you in the dark

I will sit with you in the dust

Until you see that you’re no longer breaking up, but breaking open

Your sorrow an anthem of living

An unwillingness to give in

Every tear falling on a body that is still here, despite it all

You’re here

You’re here

You’re still here

Brave and breaking

Not up, but open

Hands shaking with the beautiful, brave effort of living