Principles
Death and dying
(This is an earlier version of 'After the Funeral')
Funeral poem
Traveling to have the funeral tape copied
on the West Side of Manhattan
street traffic continual without let up
as people run for a place on the bus
and gather for a seat on the second
they entered and left during the ride.
Afterward masses hurriedly walk
along 34th pulled by an invisible tension
and in the discount store we returned her clothes
amidst people comparing, pricing, bargaining
as a young Israeli girl who looked Spanish
asked us if the Speedsters were for men or not.
No, the world didn't stop for a heartbeat
and surges along in its craziness
as I inwardly protest
why everything does not stop
for a minutes silence
on the passing of my sweet mama.