Dedicated to Natalie

In death you become everyones.
In dying you are everyones, and mine too.
Not like in life
When you were you
And that was that.
When you were taken away
In that violent way
EVERYONE shed tears
Because, well. Five years
It’s a long time.

But Nat, it’s horrible
If you screamed, no one heard that cared
If Only he had dared
To put his life on the line
Instead of yours.
You, who in year nine
Started something that would not end
Until that day
The 2nd of May.
No one lives forever, Nat,
But you were only seventeen.
You didn't have cancer.
You weren't sick.
You weren't old.
You were our age
My age.

I look out the window
And it’s sunny.
So still and so bright.
If you’d have lived,
You’d have had a fright,
But you’d have been alright,
Maybe scarred and maybe bruised,
But better that than a body, used,
Now buried.

I’ve been to your grave
Twice.
It’s really…Nice.
Like I said the funeral was to those that asked.
What else can you say?
That it was horrific?
You would probably have guessed.
That all her family did their best?
That is quite expected.
That people laughed, no one objected?
That there were mini skirts
And love that hurts
And untucked shirts?
This was a funeral of a girl whose life had stretched before her
She
And we
Had only just begun.