I've never been too close to the edge of my universe

I've only gotten to close to the edge of the beach that

Flat-Earthists would tell me I'd fall off

I've seen stars up close

But are they that close if you view them through glass

 

I've never seen the future but there was one time

I felt I shouldn't get Starbucks but I did

and I ended up with an EpiPen in my leg

and a medical bill in my hands

the nurse wrote my height and weight a

and allergies

on a paper towel

as if they could be easily wiped away

 

I've never been outside the US

but once I did a history project on Australia

and talked about Steve Irwin for fifteen minutes

 

I've never been so close to a leader

but I designed t-shirts

that people now wear like a second skin

 

I've never been too close to forgetting your name

I still remember your middle name 

because all three of your names have six letters in them

I've seen fire that didn't compare to what your eyes looked like

the night they were surrounded by darkness

I've felt your pain and sadness

I've kissed your scars

but it still wasn't enough

will your bones still tell the story

of lies and venom

that I still taste when I see your name

your name

I've never forgotten it

hopefully one day I'll forget what our children 

were supposed to be named

to think with a few I don't love yous

we destroyed whole people

 

I've never been close to what

some would call success

I've always fallen short

right

over

the edge of

the earth