the back of the metro section

when

you read about the death of someone

in the paper, a celebrity,

or singer,

an actor of some sort,

or maybe

a fallen or rising star, 

or maybe a local bumpkin

that you sort of know,

all you pretty much

want to know is why,

how exactly did he or she die.

how old.

were they married,

children,

rich or poor,

what did they leave behind.

smart and funny,

was he liked,

or despised.

you pretty much want the full

story

on this individual.

you read the obit, over

and over and listen

to the news,

but no.

you have to dig

for that sort of information.

did she really choke on a ham

sandwich,

did he die

by pills or by the rope,

was there foul play involved,

an ex-lover perhaps,

a disgruntled employee, a sibling,

or stranger.

was there a note?

you have to ask around,

call up

your busy body friends,

the know it alls that you know,

you have

to forage through the brush

of the internet,

the high weeds,

to find what you're looking for.

but in the end you really don't care,

but it would

be nice to know,

before you move on to the weather

and then sports.