Purple Heart

Marcus Amaker wrote a Casey Inspired poem.

the last time i saw you
you were a shadow of yourself -
hiding the battle scars
after declaring war
on the ghosts
that were moving through your body.

we all would have
gone on the frontlines for you
but you had to do it alone.
so you held on to your heartbeat
like a weapon -
smiling through the pain
even after your enemy claimed its name:

cancer.

a year and a half later,
your ex-boyfriend tells me
it's a shame that someone
with so much life
couldn't win the fight.
so we drink and think of you
and continue to train for the battle
like it's the only thing to fight for.

and now i sharpen my sword
for your memory
and cut through the silence you left here
after all of the smoke cleared.

You can hear him narrate it at www.marcusamaker.com