the greatest loss of all

the numbness seeps in
for me
usually when the cameras turn away

once the media is finished with you
i sit
in reverence, confusion, dismay

another
another

how many of our brothers and sisters
mothers, friends, partners, wives
do we need to lose before
we stop
and ask ourselves

what can be done about this?

prescription drugs
kill

quietly - in sleep, in bathtubs
peaceful violence
robbery
the rape of a life

as bon iver plays
i think of whitney
laid to rest this afternoon

the media will be done with her now
until their next opportunity
for money

a gift, that voice
talent beyond reason

but, we're all doomed, really
when no one tells us no

'what a nightmare to deal with'
'she's been a mess for years'
'this was inevitable'
we've said and heard it all

but that voice floods in
full of power and pride
joy and sincerity
longing
clear
somehow proving something more

i wonder if we'll ever get it
with sensible legislation
with self-regulation

feeling the pain
instead of swallowing it

so many thoughts..
a waste, a shame, a tragedy

she must have known we loved her

the common denominator
for her
for you

you're loved
breathe in the power of that

even at your lowest
i hope that you can hear that truth
we're none of us half as alone as we feel

the pain is only temporary
and there's always help

whitney didn't write those magic songs
but
she performed them with a knowledge
a deeper understanding

‎"I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadows. If I fail, if I succeed, at least I live as I believe."

the most we can hope
for ourselves
is there