‘’He’s dead.’’









‘ ’An accident.’’









I hear the voice say









crackling over the line









a poor connection








Dead








I say all the words that don’t












matter anymore








I think blankly








It is hardly real








a dream








I drop the phone








what poor etiquette I display









It is unreal









to think he









is dead









My mind does not accept it









does not digest it









I expect to see him









around a corner sometime soon









No grief floods me









There is only shock









I am heartless?










shock
















It’s a funny thing






but I’m not laughing






I’m too numb to laugh, anyway






but if I’m numb why do I






ache?