the living are hungry

i'm at the age
where i browse the obituaries
at the back
of the city section

to see if anyone i know has
died recently.

nope.
it's expensive
to post a memorial,
so many go unnoticed.

you usually find out
when you run into someone
who knew
the dearly departed

and they give you the news.
but nothing
in the paper today,

so i go to the food section
looking

for a new recipe for Italian
stew. there it is.

i take a pair of scissors
and neatly cut
it out.

i set it on the table
next to my keys, my glasses,
my hat.

the living are still
hungry.

without a doubt.