you died yesterday

You died yesterday
I didn’t believe it
At first
Because your eyes were wide open
And I thought I saw you blink

I tried calling you that afternoon
And your corpse answered the phone
Exhausted from the day’s activities

Dying was hard
But keeping up the appearance of living
After death
Was more work
Than you thought

(I know the feeling)

Ironically you thought I was a prank call
Because who would check on
Someone that never existed?

But you looked identical from afar

We talked, but I realize it was
Mostly me
Saying things in the direction of your glassy gaze

I was too stupid to know
That no breathing
And no pulse
were usually irreversible
so I claimed your body
and carted you around
in a wheelbarrow
for 21 years

Sometimes you turned your head
To look at me
But it was because I was
Intentionally going down
Cobblestone paths
To try to
reanimate
you