ELEGY Poem: The Son’s Heartbeat, by Dakota King

I am the oldest son.
I am the second son.
They won’t call me their son.

Make me into your monster,
as if I have a choice.
I carry that with pride.

They say I killed their daughter.
She bled out in the living room.
Her blood is on my hands.

I held her dying hand.
I witnessed her last breath.
She wouldn’t save herself.

Her heart beats in my chest,
a phantom of my own
thanks me with every beat.

It is the monster’s heart
that has kept me alive.
I won’t apologize.