Grief As A Weight Loss Plan (Poetry)

Once for ounce the while you faded
I lost something too —
yours the more visible —
the points of your fragile bones showed through
skin stretched its tent across —
angled and thin —
narrow with lethargy
appetite lessening
and you growing smaller —
shrinking within.

You wouldn’t eat
I couldn’t eat watching you lose
the bulk of your bodyweight —
letting it slip away
untempted by food —
even your favourite.

Grief leaves me hungry
’though nothing tastes the same
flesh has its needs
but modifies the frame
and I feel lighter — empty
now death has denied
and rationed me to spite you —
ash bitters my tongue
the ounces dissolving
the losing begun.