legacy

her/his whole life has been spent

in the attempt to form a memory of

herself/himself

when s/he is

dead---

every hand that has been shook,

every deal that’s been made,

they all add up to what will be

said,

after s/he is dead---

that ever-narcissistic

formation of a

legacy,

which drives those who

think seven steps ahead &

have the capital, the will &

just the right amount of

ruthlessness,

to make everything that they

want to happen,

happen &

the best we can do when

they finally go,

is to

burn

burn

burn

them all in

effigy.