Tamagotchi ghosts

[milo]

Great to see you Keith.  The poem is a treat - it explores thoughts of death and abandonment using such simple metaphor we can all easily relate without having to resort to mawkishness and melodrama.  It is such a rare thing to see.  I have read it about a dozen times and will read it a few dozen more I am sure.

They soon stopped feeding them,
forgot to give them exercise,
no water for days, always an excuse,
always me who stepped in
to try and revive them.

opening line - not sure if you need "soon" - what is it trying to convey.  The fickleness of kids with their toys and how, perhaps if it is supposed to represent a life it should be more serious?  I am not sure.  Maybe you do need it.
L2, you could use "exercise them" if you wanted active voice - not sure if it would make it better but wouldn't hurt to try.
I remember my wife always kept the kids' tamagochis alive and she took it so serious - I would roll my eyes but she would be - "IF I DONT DO THIS THEY WILL DIE!"

The boys left home,
all their unwanted childhood
stashed in boxes,
I found the dead Tamagotchi’s
at the bottom of an assorted Lego box.

Pretty solid.  The metaphor of abandonment is cleanly drawn and effortless here. Children do leave home - it is sad - this is great "empty nester" here.

They where buried with memories
I'd thought forgotten,
I tried for hours to revive her,
but some things
are just programmed to die.

typo on "where"
Don't know if you need "I'd thought forgotten" but I suppose it isn't hurting anything.
The change from it to her is perfect here.  I would almost prefer if the pronoun matched "the boys" from earlier so we could get that double meaning - just for a second - of reviving the boys

If I listen too hard, I can still hear the breathing
on nights when I can’t hold my breath any longer.

I don't think you need "too hard" or "still"
"the any longer" hints that the narrator feels they need to speak out.  I wonder if this could be enhanced somehow, not sure

Overall, a treat to read.  One of the best I have read in a while if I am being honest.  I feel like you could do a couple passes for verbiage and voicing and maybe one for rhythm but it is very solid as is and a treat to read.

Thanks for posting.

---

The seriousness amuses me.

are there any particular lines, words or phrases that you feel set the serious tone?