An Epitaph

Here lies kindly Mr. So-and-So. He will be missed, but by whom? There’s nobody here now. All I see around me are other tombstones Planted in this carrion garden, Like arms clamoring aimlessly Toward heaven, the sky, the sun, “Remember me!” they scream. And they never look back. Never look down. It’s uncertain if they even uttered a sound. I think I feel better assuming that Mr. So-and-So Is in a quote/unquote “better place”. No. I don’t believe in heaven, But I’m getting older And weaker And the lung cancer is growing And has been since I was fifteen My blood pressure is rising My teeth will not stop grinding in the night And it’s all so inevitable And unstoppable I need to pretend I believe again That kindly Mr. So-and-So gained So much more than worms and dirt at his end. We deserve So much more than that.