Waiting
written by: Siva Lakshmi
Haven’t been to a funeral in years
There is one late this morning
Heart attack dropped an acquaintance
Fabulous! Who’d miss a funeral?
Waiting in the viewing line
Amidst tears and tissues,
Heartaches and hugs,
The aroma of somberness.
What a wonderful buffet!
Rushing to the service
I walk past a fountain
Past a photographer
Past a bunch of girls
Attired for a Quinceañera
Pink skirts flutter in the breeze
Cherub cheeks light up the lawn
Smiles brighter than flash bulbs
I turn and walk back home
Will wait for an invitation
To a wedding
Haven’t been to one in years
I live in Texas and translate poetry between English and my mother tongue, Tamil. I also dabble in writing poetry in both languages. For me, poetry offers a magnifying glass to focus on and follow a random thought to its end and then rewind it back to its origin. Almost every time, I realize there is no single source and no definite ending, and that it is futile to make anyone or even myself fully comprehend what happens. But it is certainly exhilarating.
