Doll Shoes

(a funeral home poem)

The things that run through my head
all throughout the stretching day–

Steps leading to stones and water
hanging lilac gardens and murmurings
on the footpath of desire

All the floating doll shoes
and Grandma and Grandpa
side      by      side

                     TILL DEATH DO US PART

Oh this vase is broken
it won’t hold the plastic flowers

Honey, honey, where did your love go?

Yeah sure if my kid died
I’d wanna be the one to prepare him
and what about when the wakes
were held in the houses
and you could keep them unto you

        I’LL NEVER LET GO

He said, “Come unto me the dark, cold-weary,
diseased of the world”

Oh Frost Lady on the table
I see your silver-wet noodles of arteries
interrupted by forceps
and I stand above you
and I think it’s so sweet
that you’ll be made presentable
to your family  

Don’t you agree, my love?
Don’t you agree?

Oh Lady Blue
don’t judge
don’t condemn

forgive
please
forgive.