I imagine they will be completely mystified

Was the cancer a lie, wasn’t I listening well?

Each day he gave away a piece of himself.

He had the softest of kisses

Meet up, you say

A staple gains stature by what it holds together

In lieu of bouquets, his family seeks creosote to bloom its tang of moths.

What kind of bird sings vehicle vehicle vehicle?

And maybe we were a little too much in love
with decay.

Someone wipes the ultrasound gel
from the dead man’s chest.