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The Bottom Line
When the rains come down
a poor man dies
no flowers bedeck his coffin
no sunshine or an open hearse
professional mourners weep instead
under damp umbrellas
skilled men neatly groomed
lay out the corpse
with silken courtesy
eulogies prepared by strangers
honor the ritual
no time is left to grieve
After the hallways are deserted
only a naked light bulb remains
outside the rented room
filtered with patchy light
after the total silence
a bill comes sedately enclosed
due and payable
the contract is now complete
Jack Mashman
1988 |
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