were i to die suddenly,

leaving behind many small mementos

some precious, some not,

i would expect you to hold my memory

sacred, always;

keeping at least one tangeable thing

we both held dear-

that would please me, ease my situation,

(knowing that you cared)

but then, after reasoned time,

(paying respect to my vanity, and our curious

you must put me with the past,

neighbors)

for mourning will not make me whole again-

lock away in lavender

all that's left of me,

then take to home and bed another,

strong and wild as me-

forget me, go on, it must be done

14

Adrian Stanford