How To Keep The People We Lose Alive

You are gone now
from me
but not from my heart;
this is where I will carry you
always
this is my promise to you:

I will not let sadness
grow weeds in the space
you have left behind—
I will use your laughter
to water the flowers
of your big, big love
they will grow there
filling the empty caverns of my chest
they will grow in wild bundles
of joy and eternal spring
they will grow so much
that I will give some away
to other people I love
and then they, too,
will carry you in their hearts.