the party after the funeral

most parties

after the funeral are sad,

but fun

events,

good food, stories are told,

jokes are made,

each one

starting out with the words,

remember

when he said this, 

or did that,

remember the time

we were all with him

and then

something strange

occurred.

i listen and smile as i let

the butter

melt across my lobster

roll,

i'm waiting for the ribeye

cooking on the grill,

sipping on a cold martini.

i do remember.

i remember all of it, more

than any of them

will ever know.