Cowards Besides The Grave Poem by Vanessa Alvarez

Some folks will drive a thousand miles
To fake their grief with practiced smiles.
They'll stand in black and bow their head,
But never checked on you in dread.

They'll cry for you when life is through,
But never showed up when it mattered to you.

They'll bring you flowers once you're dead,
But never fed your soul instead.
They'll cross whole states to mourn your name,
But wouldn't cross a street in rain.

They'll post their grief for all to see,
Pretend they loved you endlessly.
But when you lived and called their name,
They vanished fast, they felt no shame.

They'll post their love for all to see,
But never showed you loyalty.
They'll write long speeches at your wake,
But never eased the pain you'd take

It's wild how death makes cowards brave,
How guilt grows loud beside a grave.
How they appear when breath has fled,
But vanished when you begged instead.

So let them weep, let liars cry—
Their tears are just a cheap goodbye.
For real ones walk through every storm,
Not just your funeral in uniform.

And when your story's carved in stone,
The ones who stayed—the few you've known—
Will shine far brighter than the rest,
For loyalty is love's true test.
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