A Poem

This is a poem I wrote after my 18 year old cousin Mitchell died this past October.

Seatbelt

an unattached
strap
ends a life.

The conquered kitchen
is invaded by casseroles, cakes, and pies--
and conversations of Tom's All-Natural Deordorant
and chickens with zebra stripes.

among the crowd of sisters and strangers--
someone discovers the most important task in the world
and washes the unblemished floor.

someone compliments my hair--
and asks me why I don't have a boyfriend.
someone presses and dries
flowers of sympathy
for a wedding bouquet.

someone pierced,
praises Papst Blue Ribbon
someone tries to tell hilarious stories of a trip to Greece, once.

someone wears the boy's cologne--
and sleeps in his sweatshirt.

the mother holds the hand--
print of plaster.

someone asks--
collar tucked in or out?
yes.