Little Things

I still hear your voice

in my head

And in the voicemails I kept

singing happy birthday

or telling me I missed a spot

while pulling weeds

in the summer sun

I miss it all

I miss you

I wish I could tell you about everything

my classes

my friends

The boys I briefly fall in love with

and then quickly forget

I want to share my life with you

like I did when I was young

Yet you got old

Your skin wrinkled

And your eyes shone with age

Your words became memory

As you faded

As you declined

I wish I could have heard your voice

just one more time

held your hand

told you I love you

Sometimes life is cruel

And it’s unfair

You left before I got to say goodbye

And I saw you lying there

the husk of you

the meat case that held your soul

I miss you

more and more every day

Yet I say hello to the butterflies

to the flowers

to the clear skies

and when the sun feels warm on my skin

I say hello to that, too

for it reminds me of you

And if that’s all I can do

Then so be it

I will continue to say hello

to the things that remind me of you

until it hurts a little less

But I fear that day won’t come anytime soon

Until then, I’ll continue to say hello

to all the little things