ONE OF AESRED'S

For convenience he always
Kept some pallbearers. with him.
They occupied their evenings
With cards or drinks.
Mornings were spent training
Carrying coffins with them
While running errands.

PREMONITION

Jane Welsh Carlyle had a presentiment

Of her death. Faceless men, she dreamed

Carried a heavy coffin into her room

And rested it before her on the ground.

It was fine thing, made of close-grained wood,

Lined with soft purple velvet. She said

“Are you sure? I do not think Mr. Carlyle

Would spend quite so much money.

Pine is a very decent wood and pine needles

Are well enough for a corpse’s rest.”

Three days later, she had another dream

The same men returned but one of them

Had acquired a face, or borrowed one,

So that he could look chagrined.

“You were right. The coffin was meant

For quite a different Mrs. Carlyle.

If it is any comfort the three monkeys

We were supposed to bring to you

Have brought her no end of trouble.”

LAST SERVICES

Fear sat with me while I was sick,
Held my hand, sang to me,
Gave me spoonfuls of broth,
Told me stories. Later,
It put pennies on my eyes,
An obol in my mouth
And a twenty dollar gold piece
In my suit pocket so my friends
Knew I died standing pat.
During the service, Fear
Smoked a cigarette,
Stretched out on my coffin
And fell asleep.