This recounts my friends' father's wake. However, it's written in the wife's shoes. |
I gave them your favorite jacket. The one you were going to wear skiing. That hideous orange thing I teased you for. I gave it to them to give to you. Kate wrote out lyrics To what is now her favorite song: “You Are My Sunshine.” Jack took your albums And copied out every single line To every single song. They’re in the pockets Of your ugly jacket To which I am growing so fond. I figured you could entertain Grandma with a guitar Since you’ll be seeing her, But I knew such a thing would never fit Into your new “home.” I stood in front of you saying all these things While everyone was watching Hoping to see a tear. But I had been so strong. I’d cried so little. But with each tear dropped came one more hug. One more hug to make me cry. Again. So I turned away from your coffin And walked away. First thing seen: the bathroom. In a bathroom stall, I said what couldn’t be said to your coffin. I said I love you and will always miss you. I said all the things I’ll never stop saying All the things I need to keep saying. All of this I did say to a toilet. And all of this I still say to a jar of ashes Which sits beside my side of the bed, While the other side is. Just is. |