Prop me up on the slab.

You’re such a doll!

Open me up, you’ll see how you stopped my heart right in its tracks.

One look at you

And I am as delusional as Cotard.

You saw right through me—

Starting with the arms that reach out to hold you.

Then the legs that run to you when loneliness becomes a load too heavy to carry.

All that remains of me is a stump.

Young lovers rush to carve their initials in my hollows

To return to when they are old and gray.

While I am stuck waiting for you to uproot me.

I can keep you warm at night

But you’d rather I stay buried.