Imperfections

Why is it that you wanted me more on
the night I was leaving
than you ever wanted me
before?

Does pain bring people
closer together than
pleasure?

Are we more afraid of
living together than of
dying alone

Does distance unite people more deeply
than familiarity?

Is it as though our hunger
is to be hungry and
our real need is
to be missed

It's no accident that the songs
that sell the most
are sad.

-Merrit Malloy

Basic Math

I'm old-fashioned

I still believe that people

can stay married

for the rest of their lives

as long as they do it

with one person

at a time.

-Merrit Mallow

Give me away

When I die if you need to weep
Cry for your brother or sister
Walking the street beside you
And when you need me put your arms around anyone
And give them what you need to give me.

I want to leave you something
Something better than words or sounds.

Look for me in the people I've known or loved
And if you cannot give me away
At least let me live in your eyes and not on your mind.

You can love me most by letting hands touch hands
By letting bodies touch bodies
And by letting go of children that need to be free.

Love doesn't die, people do
So when all that's left of me is love
Give me away.

-Merritt Malloy