i always knew he would pass away alone
an animal who crawled off
into the wilds of the city
to be near water
on the banks
of the hudson river
away from the eyes
of his once privileged coterie
looking back
he had this way
of knowing exactly
what to say
to make you
want to die
laughing
at any given moment
in a crowded elevator he would announce
his shipment of fainting goats
had been lost at sea
or the
silly little things he would buy
and ship to me
sin-o-mints
that tasted just like jesus
odds and ends
jewelry, dolls, books, clothing, blankets, pocket knives, chocolates, the finest pastry
such attention paid to each detail
down to the very last
red pepper and cream cheese layer
of traveling sandwiches packed for me
until the demon came
and the bones of his face would change
his poetry became shit
i wanted to stab him to death
with the word consider
yes
he had this way
of knowing exactly
what to say
to make you
want
to
die
One reply on “this do in remembrance of me”
You certainly have a way with the language of images. Power and beauty.