In case you’re an editor obsessed with departure
like some I could mention who are very much alive
I’ll work demise in here as best I can--yesterday
feeling like death post-’flu I was cleaning windows
when a car drew up outside someone got out holding a rifle
started shooting into the trees I thought he’d see me
peering through the crack pick me off on the first floor
but he carried on killing pigeons adjusting his shades
and his peak cap--my friend and I went for a walk in town
saw a restaurant sign on fire the people dining inside oblivious
he caught the owner’s attention the guy cut the current
so we didn’t return to find the diners cremated--
later the commuter next to me on the train dozed
spent from his day’s graft his head sank into my shoulder
a deadweight so incongruous and delicious his breath
smelling of beer I let him stay expired when he woke
he said it was nice sleeping with you then stumbled out
the wrong door spread-eagled the line of the oncoming express--
I croaked it out to my parrot as she perched on my scalp
we pottered from room to room till absent-mindedly
still shaken and upset about the flattened man
I walked out onto the terrace she flew away of course
the next-door neighbor’s cat was watching taking in
the scene the way cats do and the bird won’t see tomorrow--
depressed I turned to the internet and read that a teenager was killed
by a metal butterfly that detached from a fairground ride--
perhaps you’ll publish this on misery merit despite the lack of sex
or profanities or pandemic--btw the last male northern white rhino
died in 2018 two females remain kept under 24-hour armed guard
their names are Fatu and Najin her father’s semen appears to be
the only hope though his sperm count wasn’t high
so I made a good stab at fatality by the way
if I get any more rejections I think I may just top myself.
(First published in Black Telephone, Issue 7, January 2022)
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