<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="">What will the dead say . . .</span><o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">to those who mourn the restless souls<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">who died alone and drowning<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">hands held by surrogates—<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">free us from these chains of neglect<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">and abuse by the many who fostered<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">deceit and chaos, our spirits like birds<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">trapped in nets of confusion <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">hear our calls as we haunt the memories<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">of the living who choke on tears<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">flooding hearts broken open to grief<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">and regret over how and why<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">stop now and listen as we sound the wind and<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">shroud the moon our souls drawn to the light<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">cast between then and forever<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">release us with your wailing<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">let us go without asking and<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">find us in the warmth of the sun<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">hear us in the waves as they break toward shore<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">lay us to rest in the still beating heart<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- L.L. Stamps</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p></div></body></html>