sometimes the road you’re on comes to an unexpected dead end
always wanted to buy a house on a dead end
just so I could have the morbid pleasure of saying I live on a dead end
deep and you don’t hear a sound
dead to the world whether you know it or not
when you’re dead, you’re dead
dead right or dead wrong, it don’t matter now
the misshapen branches in the wind don’t care as they nod in agreement
you fall under a dead silence
six feet in the ground or some ashes spread around
an ocean, a bay, a mountainside
death sometimes comes with a sudden thump
sometimes it comes with a whisper of the wind
a tap on the shoulder, an unexpected visitor wearing black shroud
always happens to others///
now you and the sea scrolls have something in common
until then
evening and then days come and go
make some tea and retreat to the darkness of the bedroom
light a candle, mumble a prayer--what could it hurt just in case
reflections of flame bending in glass
dragon’s blood incense burning, a favorite
sooner or later your number comes up
contemplate your mortality over your coffee
what can you do? nothing, nothing
memories fade, tombstones grow moss and weeded over
some begin leaning over like they’re going into a fierce wind
hollow winds blow across the stone garden
iron gates creak in squeaky tones in dense fog
leaves scatter like distraught mourners
