On My Eventual Death by Rick Lupert

I

Scientists say
our sun will burn out
in three billion years;

all life on earth
that ever was,
gone.

With this in mind
it is my policy to not make
long term plans or

worry too much
about my
legacy.

II

I read about a couple
that had their beloved dog
cloned.

Addie asks if want to clone
my beloved Tigger. I tell her
yes;

because she would love him
as a kitten and so he could
be with us forever.

I tell her it costs
one hundred eighty thousand
dollars

and she screams
and doesn’t listen to another word
I say.

I tell her I heard the price is
going down, but she doesn’t hear me.
She is still screaming.

III

Knowing my family’s history
of heart failure, I ask Addie

If I die young, and you remarry,
which I would understand, would you
agree to be buried next to me.

I hope you have a happy life with the new guy;
but I couldn’t imagine spending eternity
under the ground without you.

Addie is, of course, horrified
but she agrees
which comforts me.

IV

Jude, my son
holds his fist in the air
like fight the power

as the milk goes into his mouth

Ah Jude, my son,
my little Black Panther
you will outlive us all.


		Rick Lupert
		On My Eventual Death
		I Scientists say our sun will burn out in three billion years; all life on earth that ever was, gone. With this in mind it is my policy to not make long term plans or worry too much about my legacy. II I read about a couple that had their beloved dog cloned. Addie asks if want to clone my beloved Tigger. I tell her yes; because she would love him as a kitten and so he could be with us forever. I tell her it costs one hundred eighty thousand dollars and she screams and doesn’t listen to another word I say. I tell her I heard the price is going down, but she doesn’t hear me. She is still screaming. III Knowing my family’s history of heart failure, I ask Addie If I die young, and you remarry, which I would understand, would you agree to be buried next to me. I hope you have a happy life with the new guy; but I couldn’t imagine spending eternity under the ground without you. Addie is, of course, horrified but she agrees which comforts me. IV Jude, my son holds his fist in the air like fight the power as the milk goes into his mouth Ah Jude, my son, my little Black Panther you will outlive us all.
		Rick Lupert has been involved in the Los Angeles poetry community since 1990. He served for two years as a co-director of the Valley Contemporary Poets, a twenty-five year old non-profit organization which produces readings and publications out of the San Fernando Valley. His poetry has appeared in numerous magazines and literary journals, including The Los Angeles Times, Chiron Review, Stirring, PoeticDiversity.org, Zuzu's Petals, Caffeine Magazine, Blue Satellite and others. He recently edited A Poet’s Haggadah: Passover through the Eyes of Poets anthology and is the author of 11 books: Paris: It’s The Cheese, I Am My Own Orange County, Mowing Fargo, I'm a Jew. Are You?, Stolen Mummies, I’d Like to Bake Your Goods, A Man With No Teeth Serves Us Breakfast, (Ain’t Got No Press), Lizard King of the Laundromat, Brendan Constantine is My Kind of Town (Inevitable Press), Feeding Holy Cats and Up Liberty’s Skirt (Cassowary Press). He has hosted the long running Cobalt Café reading series in Canoga Park since 1994 and is regularly featured at venues throughout Southern California. He has also authored 3 e-books collections of poetry, "To Hell With Rick Lupert", "The Rick Lupert Fun Club" and most recently "On My Eventual Death." All three are available for free download at PoetrySuperHighway.com. Rick created and maintains the Poetry Super Highway, a major internet resource for poets. (http://PoetrySuperHighway.com/) Currently Rick works as the music teacher and graphic and web designer for Temple Ahavat Shalom in Northridge, CA and for anyone who would like to help pay his mortgage. He lives in Van Nuys, California with his wife Addie and son Jude.
		© Rick Lupert All Rights Reserved