a world is not enough. regardless of cost,
we must evolve past the programing. have you
seen the sun today, my friend? have you bled
enough red? i’m sorry, but no needled threaded
ever so carefully will save you. even graves
cannot stay silent. you will never be enough of them
to pass. this is the true legacy of the plague years, of
our blankets and needlepoint grief. will you bear the names
with me? i have taken the shovel, i will dredge the bones
of myself onto the steps. and when i die, my friend, my
beloved friend, i hope it won’t be alone.
we were here. you have no right to forget.

Emma Johnson-Rivard is a doctoral student at the University of Cincinnati. She can be found at Bluesky at @blackcattales and emmajohnson-rivard.com.