Before they closed the casket
I caught a glimpse of his face.
The coloring was unnatural
and his skin looked like plastic.
Not at all the way I remembered
him, emotionless as a sack
of potatoes, but maybe
as a corpse should be at his own
funeral; an empty vessel there
to receive all the joy and grief
it can absorb from the living
and when it is full they will
can it up tight and drop it into
the ground where it will hold
these memories, maybe forever.
Barring any leak, it should hold
pressure for years to come.
Better to be cremated I thought.
On the way back from viewing
his body I slipped an envelope
full of cash into his mother’s hands.
“This is in your son’s memory from
all of us down at the print shop.”
Later she fainted when she stood
to say a few words of farewell.
Some of his friends told funny
stories about his life
and how they had known him.
Every single one of them
commented on what great
skill he'd had on that motorcycle.
After we had all gone, they shut
the lid and sealed it tight.
by
Atticus *.
Member since:
September 16, 2006 PSI
April 30, 2012 12:01 AM UTC
(Updated: April 30, 2012 12:09 AM UTC)
views: 0
|
7 people recommend this
|
comments: 7
Find more about:
poem a day in april,
poetry,
poem,
creative writing,
small poem,
writing,
whetstone
Find Gather groups:
Thirteen Blackbirds Poetry Review, For the Love of Free Verse, Beat Jazz & Poetry Cellar, Whetstone Poetry, Poems In The Sand, Poets Nook, Buddy's Barko Lounge, The Psycho-anal-oetry Society, Public Forum, .....The Writers Review....., Experimental poetry, Poetic License, Poets and Writers, Best Of Gather, Zealous Poets, Eye of the Beholder, Shared Poetry Reviews, The Critics' Corner, Poetry Central, Virtual Muse, Poets, New and Old, No Fighting, Whining or Putting Things Down, Fluent Thinkers, PoetsRUS, ~Writing from the Heart~, Grass Roots Writing, Honest Feedback, P O E M Central, The Sound Of Poetry Review, We ALL Write, Poet's Weekly Muse, Poetry Express, *Passionate Poetry*, Random Musings, Poetry Salon, I Need My Poetry, Poetry of the Obscure, Poetic Incarnations, The Virtual Workshop, .....The Poetry Review....., The Wordman Thomas Has Spoken - All Poetry And Fiction Writing All The Time, Undeniably Late Night, Honest Poetry Critique, The Surreal Circus, Bogie’s Café Américain, Poetic Release, Just Write!, originalpoetryaspirants, Poetically Incorrect, Wanderings of the mind, shortest of verses, poetryloverz, promoting creativity, The Triple Name Club, The Bulletproof Poets Society, What's on your Mind, Brotherhood of Poets, Light of Poetry, Gather Writing Essential, Warrior Poets, Poet's Passion, Poetry Gazebo, Artistic License, Poetic expressions, Poetry from the Heart, Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists, Losing Your Religion, Corinna: Sheriff of Poetry Town, itty "biggy" poetry
7 people recommend this post
Please provide details below to help Gather review this content. If it is found to be inappropriate and in violation of the Gather Terms of Service, action will be taken.
You have successfully submitted a report for this post.
|
|
|
||||||||||
recommend
Facebook
Twitter
bookmark 
print
About Gather |
Engagement Marketing |
Gather Points |
Advertise on Gather |
Gather Press |
Privacy |
Terms of Service |
Community Guidelines
Books | Business | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Giveaways | Health | Money | Moms | News | Politics | Sports | Style | Technology | Travel | Writing
Books | Business | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Giveaways | Health | Money | Moms | News | Politics | Sports | Style | Technology | Travel | Writing
Version 18247, "Zach"; Copyright © 2013 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.
Comments: 7
Yes, cremation would have been better. We should all be returned to Mother Earth.
Tweeted!
Make your own banner at MyBannerMaker.com!
Thanks for posting to Surreal Circus
Great write, Atticus...
Thank you submitting to Gathers Luminous Writers and Artists. Now featured.
Two close lines end with 'hold'?
Canning the love. The worms may feast on it.
Great work as always.