Pluck the Strings without Delay

Just start the funeral now.

Today. Before any one

of us has died. Call dinner

a wake. Put some flowers

in the entry and polish

the shoes. There’s a rosary

somewhere. Find it. We will

take turns lying on the table.

Hush voices, stifle smiles,

shrug, recall. Preheat

the oven. Put the dishes

on the counter. I’ll pour

the wine. Go ahead sob.

I’ll hold you, pat

your back. When it

happens, we will

be ready. We can say,

Oh, not this

again. And so soon.