The Black Napkin Volume 1 Issue 4 | Page 26

21

Christina

they say life is too short

how someone's too short life

stretches our days to infinite darkness

hearts overripe

every pulse, a ghost that carries our name

all the disadvantages of this world are due to

the insecurities of the person himself's ability

the accuracy of Christina's twitter

as it turns to a tribute page

leaves us bone-bare swaying in a little song

the utopia of the 27 club profaned

kids now dream to be 21, dream of fame but pray

to remain unwatched by the eye of the barrel

Youtube hosts Christina's contagious smile

and razor sharp voice carrying through the masses

breaking our limbs in endless chaos, the moment she sings

you shoot me down, but I won't fall, I am titanium

can mothers ever encourage their daughters

to go after their dreams anymore? and should brothers

accompany their sisters heavily armed?

it is pitch-dark and none of us is titanium

we are the wilting flowers and tear-soaked teddy bears

that fans left at the scene of her last breath

each morning bracing for the news

people feed death gasps with unsolicited blaming and shaming

gun control, mental illness, fanaticism

but there are no answers that make Christina's dream palpable

and Christina wakeable

titanium, a deathless star

was born June 10th

the rest of us dragged along a corroded curtain

helplessly repeating

I love you-s to close ones

till the next tragedy