Wake

It began with a wisp of hair Curling above the edge of the wood, The curve of a button nose-- Unexpected. You wore purple And maybe you were due To be beautiful, But dead is dead. A favorite dress Does not make you who you were; It can't bring back the life That used to live behind those eyes. Those eyes closed shut With caked makeup. They could have done a better job. I looked that young man Right in the face, Seeing the age behind the numbness. The sudden age that puts the world On a pair of shoulders That have slumped with resignation. I took his cold hand in mine And all I could think to say Was "you'll be okay."