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Tim McLafferty: Noh for Dudes

March 30, 2013 by PBQ

What you are now we used to be; what we are now
you will be.
                 —Capuchin Crypt, Rome
 
Downer. Yeah.
 
The thing is, they’re right; at least about the second
part. Yep.
 
So, what’s the point of all this ruminating on Death,
anyway?
 
I think it’s to make you appreciate life. Is it working?
Not for everyone.
 
How about writing poems about death and dying?
They can be a drag.
 
But those ossuaries are pretty cool. Totally. And we
love death and murder
 
in our entertainments. Hell, yes. I mean, even Homer.
Even Virgil! Right, I mean, that’s
 
some bloody shit. So, what’s up with us and this death
fix? Don’t know.
 
Zen is austere about it. About everything. Yeah, Zen is
fucking boring.
 
We like death, though. Love death! We love it! The
dying and the killing!
It’s entertaining!
 
Gladiators. Cockfights. Dogfights. Sharks. Bullfights.
Drive-bys. Suicides.
 
Traffic accidents. Flesh-eating viruses. Zombies!
Fucking love zombies!
 
We’re gonna die, aren’t we? Yeah. Bummer. Yep.

Filed Under: Contributors 86, Issue 86, Poetry, Poetry 86 Tagged With: Contributors 86, Poetry, Poetry 86, Tim McLafferty

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