I’ve been dead before
so I can write with authority
didn‘t care for it much
too much noise, everyone talking at once
the television was always on
the radio tuned to the same station
too much drinking
perhaps they had to
no one could see the sky.

None of the metaphors work
Death is a cocktail party
Death is a three-day binge
Death is knowing you’ve disappointed your children
Death is your wife in that stiff-backed chair
Not like that at all.

Death is disappointment
lies that come unbidden
judges you’ve never met.
You don’t know.
You don’t know.