Don’t close my eyes when I die –
Don’t you dare close my eyes.
Let them stay open and take in what they can
Without my mind editing or my heart interpreting.
For once they will accept the truth without it being painted
No bells and whistles
No man-made faults
No swaddling linens to make the facts more comfortable,
To make the world well-rested
Don’t close my eyes when I die.
Put the coins in my pocket instead,
And one in my mouth to keep my tongue at bay.
Leave my hands up-turned
And my hair a mess
And let my last tears dry on my face
And let yours fall with the ease of sunlight
And none of the violence of rain
That is, if they need to fall at all
Don’t close your eyes when I die.
Let the moment stay with you and remind you
That you never knew all of me
But you always came the closest,
And I knew as much of you as you’d let me.
Even in our selflessness,
We can’t help but keep some things to ourselves.
Don’t close your eyes when I die.
Let them fill and drain as they need,
But don’t close your eyes when I die.
The things that are wrong with my brain 