die

when the light went out
in your eyes
i imagine you did not die 

stepped, danced
fantastic footwork
pranced into the next 
stage of existence 
i imagine you 
took off your hat 
left it in the doorway
made it clear that
although you are gone
you are not, really

i can see you
spinning and jumping
singing and thumping 
holding the hands of all those
who were not so lucky in life 
and kissing better their strife
i hope you learned there
how to love your smile

maybe you pulled off the glove 
sparkling, silver
rhinestones glittering
in a heavenly sun
left it on a hook
and let your fingers breathe
in all of their imperfect glory
allowed them to flex in freedom

all of them, i think
those that are gone
still live on in song
i cannot believe
they do not continue on

i am sure
there is a space
in the afterlife 
a stage, a set
a piano and no regrets
a perfect crowd
to belt out your notes
and watch as you float 
in the feeling of success
i hope they realised 
they lived their lives the best
they could

they made us all
feel understood

in the raging flamboyance
the strut, the sass
none of it has truly passed
not even that fantastic moustache
i think, really 
it is all still here
and near 

all of them, every one we lost 
those empty and gone
we replay their songs
and hope everyone sings along

when you died
i can't imagine
your spirit 
ceasing to exist
and although you are missed
i am sure you jumped
straight into whatever came next
with an open mind
and a hopeful chest
stamped your way 
through all of the fear

i hope you see, now
how many you inspired
how easily you
put out fires
how many people 
saw your talent
and felt filled with desire 

freestyling onstage 
words falling off the page
making no mistakes
still open about your battles
honest on the struggle
holding me close
in a lyrical cuddle
no worries about pills
no emptiness to fill
just the knowledge 
of your power

every hour

you live on.

12:53pm - 08/12/25.