I may not know loss

I may not know loss but I do know what it's like to stare down at the 9:16 ratio marble plates on the ground with my siblings' names carved on them one misspelled and ignored the others covered in weeds and roots I may not know loss but I do know what it's like to stare down in an argument about why you don't perform as expected when you walked into that conversation excited to share your results I may not know loss but I do know what it's like to stare down at the man you looked up to as a child promising you won't turn into who he's become I may not know loss but I do know what it's like to stare down at what's left of my mother's dignity after sacrificing herself to an unworthy man I may not know loss but I do know what it's like to stare down and be reminded of the time I could not pick myself up and find a reason to live within myself.