royal blue and bright yellow balloons

ah….someone died i mouthed to you.

you looked at me and shook your head.

you have heard this story too many times from me.

balloons let go right before the city sets the sun

balloons letting go means murder.

or overdose. or being poor.

or just living your life like an everyone else fucking does.

just your skin is darker.

i wonder if those are balloons for you.

two weeks after we went shopping so you could have

more than 1 pair of underwear that you washed in the sink.

you were eyes wide open.

can i get this. of course i smiled.

you can get whatever you want.

weeks away from signing a lease to your first apartment.

ever. locked up as a juvenile. 30 years in prison.

we hugged and promised to see each other next week.

when next week was too late. maybe the balloons were for you.

maybe not. i planted bright purple firecracker pansies.

my garden full of too many flowers to those i wanted to know

in 5 years. rest in power. like the rest.