How To Position My Coffin
by Lorence Gutterman
For Sharon: How to Position My Coffin
Remember I snore
on my back,
so uncomfortable
on my side.
Stand me up
like an old oak.
Pound in a sign-
No dogs allowed.
Heroes I newly greet,
gravediggers in an Ohio January,
not on my head
forgot my comb.
The final goodbye,
give me a clue.
Dark chocolate drizzled
over black raspberries would do.
No eulogy dearest
a do-si-do won’t do,
charm me with a jitter-bug step
and slip me sips of espresso instead.
At graveside
humor is my pillow.
Don’t forget-
glitter my boring boarded box.
Hum me Laila Tov,
shir haSharon,
take us to Jerusalem
one last time.