Saturday, April 20, 2013

THE MODERN GRAVE

digital art: ralph murre


THE MODERN GRAVE
By Susan Cherry

It simply won’t do
in this day and age:

a tombstone that merely says
“loving mother”
or “he was magic”
along with the dates
the deceased touched down
on the world’s runway
and later, took off
for a destination
without an address. 

So, my children, take note:

when my time arrives,
forgo the numbers, the epithets,
and even my name;
just chisel my stone
with a matrix code
so passersby
who want to know
my who what when
where how and why

can whip out their phones
and scan the maze
of tiny squares
that will take them online,

where I’ll ever abide.


~ first published by the Illinois State Poetry Society