You who hugged me once

Did you notice the gift you left?

How some of you pulled right off, and stayed with me

And as you left I felt you sticking to my skin?

I’ve carried these traces of you

Over long decades or hours

Through fires and catastrophes

Into parties and late nights alone in the dark

And during the times I couldn’t love myself

I clutched my shoulders tight and felt you there

Knowing somehow I’m alive on your skin too

And this might just be the way we live forever

~ Liesl Dineen 2015