i know somewhere there is a hero who loved her friend
and was allowed to go home with her
in peace
without a swarm of angry ghosts chasing them down 
into an early grave with no name. 
 
i know somewhere there is a boy who loved the sun
and was allowed to soar next to him
in light
without the drip of melting wax sliding down his back
into a cold hungry ocean with a frothing mouth.
 
i know somewhere there is a god who loved a mortal
and was allowed to live and die together
in silence
without the stench of poisoned ambrosia hissing down his throat
into an unwilling body with withered bones. 

and even if they are not here
        even if i do not know their names
        even if i have never seen their faces or heard their voices
i know that they are out there
                                     somewhere 
 
because sometimes
     when i hold you close 
          and pray into the vast darkness of the universe
i can hear the whispers of their memories
     echoing in the silence after my prayer dies
and i can taste the shadow of their pity 
     lingering on my tongue after my prayer dies
 
and i know that somewhere
someone like us
was once happy –