death

by

preparing for death…

as aunt bea
and
i
were leaving
the grocery store
a young man
from the gym
and
health spa
next door
was standing
beneath
one of those
easy-up tents
encouraging
passers-by
to visit their facility
for
a free
physical make-over
noting
how
such
a program
could provide
a rebirth of youth
aunt bea
said
there comes
a time
young man
when
you have
to admit
that the mainspring
is busted
and
no amount of winding
is going
to make
the clock
run any longer
best to
just
enjoy each tick
or
toc
as a beautiful day
one
at a time

by

officer-involved shooting…

without restraint
the living
become
the dead
a pregnant mother
becomes
a police shooting
her children
become
orphans
without restraint
the orphans
become
the living dead
their mother’s
touch
a memory
wrapped
in tomorrow’s hate
and
tomorrow’s hate
grows
without
restraint

by

conscription of thought…

ideas tailor fitted
for
public consumption
developing
an
acquired taste
for
the objectionable
killing
becomes
an act of faith
or
a necessary price
to pay
for
fill-in-the-blank causes
the
sales personnel
for
these marketed callings
dress
according
to
the product
being sold
wearing
symbolic uniforms
conveying
a contractual covenant
with
soon-to-be-named
and
documented deities
official
evidence
provided
upon request
from
handwritten human text
since
deities
rarely write
but
are more than willing
to
incite
romantic writings
quite
digestible
to
a core
of
white caned followers

by

concurrent moments…

a child’s
body
effloresces
miles
from the nearest
oasis
no
sounds but the wind
and
dry sand
obscuring
the body
in
land
destroyed
by man
making it
a child’s grave yard
a drink
tasted
was sent back
with
appropriate
angry looks
of
utter disgust
since
it was
obvious
the martini
had
far
too much
vermouth
making it
undrinkable

by

just a closer walk…

the marks
on his soul
did not show
nor
was he aware
how deeply
they cut into his being
his
responses
to everyday events
were
normal behavior
at least
that’s what he
believed
for so many years
until
death
began to walk
beside him
whispering
small details
he had not observed
nor
the cage
within
which
he had been placed
death
said
your belief
has blinded you
and
encouraged you
to be
a brave little soldier
independent
solving problems
on your own
but
did you not
notice
how all of nature
is connected
how
all things
are
dependent
upon one another
but
an independent beast
once
separated
from
the pack
becomes
the easiest
of
all prey
to devour
for
it’s weakest
when
its pride
convinces it
to
stand alone
come
walk with me
for
a short while
and
see the unseen