South of Where You Are

by James Babbs

I pretend you’re dead and
sometimes
I’m the one who killed you
because it helps me
at night
when I want to fall asleep and
I feel my heart
how it keeps on beating
like it’s trying to escape
and in my dreams I’m rising
floating up in the air
and soaring high above the earth
before it all comes crashing down
and I don’t know
where I’m going to land
or how hard
I’m going to hit the ground
and it only takes a moment
for everything to change
I’m holding on to you
with my eyes closed
but when I open them
I’m falling
watching you wave goodbye