ogling remnants of a life together
as their spirits hover. "They're practically
giving it all way!" she hisses, always the one
to care about such things, but he's too distracted
by the flesh and bone grazing shelves
and boxes. Wistful glances at those who
neither see that nor wonder if
he'd taken care of himself.
The exercise equipment was well-used, he hears
a curvy blonde comment; vaporous chest swells.
Boxes of books and dvds attest to decades of
eating healthy, eking out one more year,
investigating every flavor of spirituality...
might as well cover all the bases. he always said.
The fountain of youth proved elusive, but where
is heaven? Why are they still here? He's confused.
They were such an attractive couple.
Everyone said so as they walked past the caskets.
He'd anticipated being young again, fit, free to
find a younger woman at last, but no, even wispy,
there are winkles. And she's still here, complaining
as if she could go on and on forever. And may.
So far, he decides with a sigh, the afterlife is vastly overrated.
(c) Ellen Gillette, 2012
I went to an estate sale yesterday with so much longevity-related material on display - exercise equipment, exercise tapes and dvds, spiritual searches, medical/health books...and yet, none of that made the former occupants of the house immune to what faces each of us one day. I hope they had a happy life.
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