how do you want
to be remembered?
when everything's
said and done
would you want
people to think
you were brilliant
that your brain is
equivalent to that
of five people
that you found
a cure for cancer
or that you ended
world hunger?

or would you
like to be thought of
as an artist?
a deep thinker
you are comparable
to michaelangelo
or mozart, or maybe shakespeare

would you rather
people think
you were beautiful
that you inspired
poetry and prose
people looked at you
and they start to
hum, or write, or draw
people swoon or drool
or stare in awe
at the perfection
that you are

or would you like
them to cherish
your kind heart?
that you were loyal
and faithful
and ever present?
that you never said no
you never let go
never harmed a soul
smiled at everyone
made so many friends
you can't remember 'em all

would it be better
if you were remembered
as someone who loved
too much, too hard
selfless to a fault
you were always last
on your own list
you'd rather get hurt
than inflict pain
just a tiny bit more
and you'd be one
of the saints. . .

how would you want
to be remembered?

me, i'd be glad if
anybody even noticed
that i left