Wake

what I noticed first was the sound of still orange juice
the air was so dead
they put the goldfish on suicide watch
(i quipped to the kids: don't give them anything sharp,
or inflatable)

as post-cremation parties go, this took the
you know
where was the primal scream of uncle doddery?
(he's had a hard week)
and go-posh prawns that he/she would have wanted
(especially at that price!)
the smell of cigar smoke mimicking ghosts

i have a camcorder for a head
but the tape was jammed fast

so the tots had to watch
the same one over
mum in cyprus, red, chocolate-voiced

now they flanked me on both sides
planted kisses on my temples
hard so the grainy hologram inside
could enjoy them
one last time.