Poems: Three takes on dying
Life hollows out all around and we don't notice until it's right in front of us and we open our mouth and fall in.
Tooth Decay
A few days ago,
a 96-year old family friend
fell in a dentist office waiting room
and knocked himself out — for good. Spent two
days in a coma then took to the sky. Root canal canceled.
I was complaining to a bird about sore legs from skiing
when I got word of our decaying friend’s passing.
To be honest, I was surprised. I thought the
dude had already died. Need to
open my eyes and ears,
and floss more I
decided.
Uprooted
Sometimes, we’re so focused
on ourselves, our life, needs,
insecurities, and banalities,
that we’re blind to the age-
old wonders that abound.
Oblivious to others also self-
afflicted, facing earth-shaking
stress of their own. How to
live on when you are uprooted,
unremembered, eyes, ears and
mouth hollowed, needing still
one more goddamn root canal.
Memorial Service
Hey doll, what’s up?
What ya doing?
At the park, walking the dog.
Why am I on speaker phone?
So I can hear ya better. Wind’s in my ear.
You need your hearing checked.
Did you hear about Henry? He, like, died. Two weeks ago.
Oh no what happened?
He fell, keeled over at the dentist office, hit his head, knocked hisself out. Was like in a coma for awhile, but died. He was there for a root canal. God, I hate goin’ to the dentist!
I didn’t know him that well. He was rude to me once. I told you that.
Well then, I won’t tell you when the memorial service is.
Why, when is it?
June … first.
No!! My birthday? He had to choose June 1st?! Everyone’s gonna go to that and skip my
party!
What party?
Well, I might have one! I can’t now!
I don’t think he planned the date. The guy’s like 96. He didn’t know what was up.
Christ, my birthday is gonna suck. This always happens to me.
You know what you should do? Go to the service and tell everyone it’s your birthday. Like steal his thunder.
Genius, girl. Life is for the living. Party on!
Gotta let you go. Just thought you should know. Oh, can you send me that lasagna recipe with eggplant we talked about a while ago?
Sure. Veggie or meat? Oh my God! There’s like a monster-size tree here! Lying flat on the
ground right in front of me — roots sticking up all over! I could’ve walked right into it!
Veggie.
Bravo!
I can’t write like you so here, 👏