the stupidest phrase ever

as we

stood respectfully at the casket

as it was

lowered into

the ground

i said to the man next to me,

she'll be missed.

he nodded

and said, well,

it is what it is.

i said,

what does that mean?

you know, he says.

it is,

what it is.

explain to me the meaning

of that,

i ask again.

you know, come on, it's

a phrase

we all use

when we have nothing else

to say. but

want to say

something poignant.

it's undefinable.

it's stupid, i tell him.

it's nonsense.

you and everyone else should

stop saying

that.

it's dumb

and everyone that says it

should be

slapped in back of the head.

he wouldn't even look

at me

when we went back to the house

for the buffet

brunch.