The Jacket


I want to sit on the grass,
Just sit in a field until sitting fails me,
Then I’ll ponder.

Just walk aimlessly for hours,
I’ll pick up shells on the beach.
In the end, I’ll still miss you.
You are in every wave I see, and each grain of sand.

I remember when we walked this shore together,
Your hair lying perfectly, even after being tousled in the breeze,
The cold air that sheltered us in summer.

I’ll walk past the bridge,
Your truck is still there, crushed.
It misses you too.

This summer, you were all that mattered.
I thought that it would always be that way.
It’s the last day, and I have to spend it without you.

I know that you felt lousy.
I told you it would get better, why couldn’t you wait?
I told you I would be there.
You had to grow wings.
You always were so stubborn.

I turned on my lamp and looked at myself in the mirror,
The reflection wasn’t right.
You weren’t in the image.

I grab a picture of us smiling off the floor.
Look how happy we were,
The world didn’t matter.

Each day I saw you,
A sunny day after a storm,
A diamond in the rough.
How could someone like that be so careless?

Life is like a board game.
We make mistakes,
We mess up,
But we pick up the pieces and move on.
It keeps us on our toes,
It messes with our heads.

You won’t get the chance.

I walked in the park, and marveled at the butterflies.
I watched as they flew.
It reminds me of your journey.

Today was busy.
I wanted to get away.
I want to feel how I used to.
The way you feel like you’re floating on air when you’re 4with someone you care about.

All I feel is upset.

Thoughts of passing summer days rush into my head.
Your jacket is all I have left.
You aren’t coming back.

Comments

Rachel Curtis

I wrote this poem after a friend of mine passed away for an assignment in class.

The teacher handed us each a mad libs sheet, and were told to work the words we added into our poem. 

Additional Resources

Get AI Feedback on your poem

Interested in feedback on your poem? Try our AI Feedback tool.
 

 

If You Need Support

If you ever need help or support, we trust CrisisTextline.org for people dealing with depression. Text HOME to 741741