Dead People

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DEAD PEOPLE


So you’ve stumbled into a body 

and don’t know what to do. Us too. 


But before you call the coroner

and chalk it up as the deceased

it boasts itself to be, find a stick

and give the bloke a sharp poke.


If it rolls over, in a cranky voice

croaks something like “just leave me be, 

can’t you see I’ve died already,”

stay on the scene until the surgeon.

comes. Such a corpse might yet be 


saved. If, however, it stands up, 

waves, inviting you to take a seat

in its stead in the warm patch

of flattened grass it's prepared for you,

even stooping to wash the dirt

from your feet, give it a nod and pass on.


This one is already gone.

Some things are hard but true:


the dead are those who know

there’s always more dying to do.


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