the theory of terrestrials.

When Dad was dying,

growing cold, I wanted to ask him about his first kiss. And since we share the same cleft chin

was it full of spearmint crumbs or taste of the seven spiders they say we swallow each year

in our sleep? And if an alien ship landed on my front yard (across from Mrs. Walkers house)

it would be hard as hell to explain James Brown or the dark, since they may think that the

dark is light, or sharkskin  the Machiavellian crystals you lavish. Yet at some point

in our discussion we will conclude the critical mass of mortality. My dad, his three brothers,

his son by another woman other than my mother, his mother, her sister, the bull mastiff

his siblings, all gone on to some supposed heaven. Well perhaps not the mastiff since dogs

where i'm from, usually are euthanized when their hind legs won't raise or they bark like cattle calling in

the death clouds.

Everyone gone with little stone markers for where they were laid, since the headstones that stand up

with the dates of their passing written in Roman numerals and their middle initials included, cost extra.

( You know, the ones you can see from the car window)

and a cemetery attendant with one leg shorter than the other placing holiday wreaths

if you paid in advance, accoutrements of a good hear-after I imagine.

The large monuments of the wealthy, those of angels in cement half-slips with their necks of lush fountains:

I will try to explain that also.

Reviews

[W.k.kortas]

This is, especially the final portion of the second stanza, is at turns whimsical and heart-breaking, but that could be because I am a sucker for big dogs. This piece is a well-turned and ingenious look at one of those big questions that we'd rather not stare in the face, thank you very much--what have we accomplished? And what was it all for? Most of us do not have the guts to even ask the question, let alone postulate an answer this evocative.

[h d e rushin]

thank you my dear wk for those kind words...

[Ed Hart]

it is so easy for your words to come together, always a bouquet...of course, that always means there was a long hard haul immersed in other things

[h d e rushin]

thank you dear Ed for stopping in.........dana

[Lydia Shutter]

We all wonder "is that all there is?" Who will visit our graves and what will they remember of us? Will it only be that cemetery attendant laying flowers on our stones? We wonder....and we will never really know, will we? The poignancy of this....the honesty of the emotion....a very powerful piece, Dana. Lydi**

[h d e rushin]

thank you dear love for those wonderful comments...dana

[Lyn Anderson]

A beautiful prose piece, poignant, and quirky, the way our minds really work at these times, a beautifully done write.

[Terpsichore]

Bet you your last dollar that somewhere out there is an extraterrestrial thinking exactly the same thoughts; so no need to worry about being the last Rushin standing. :))

Exquisite.

T

[h d e rushin]

Thank you Terpsichore for those kind words my friend....dana

[Richard🖌]

Dana,
I am not one for blowin' smoke … so, when I say it's been a looong time since I've enjoyed brilliant poetic prose as much as I have this one of yours, you can hang your hat on it!
To claim your phraseology, moment captured, word choices and arrangement, etc; are next to amazing would be no exaggeration, and if it were not for a minuscule number of grammar and line-break issues, I'd be remiss if I failed to call this piece less than a virtual masterpiece of creative, original, and emotional enthrallment.
Your poetic voice is nothing, if not mesmerizing, entertaining, with coined original expression flowing, dancing, and emerging throughout.
You speak of death, of life, of people, even dogs, in such a manner they move from page to mind, heart, and soul … I wonder, where do dogs go … for that matter, where do any of us go?

Your skills are alluring to the senses; I cannot thank you enough for sharing this wondrous breath of freshness I've been needing … so very-very much enjoyed, Dana! ⁓ Richard


Psst!
Check "hereafter".

[h d e rushin]

thank you Richard for those kind words my friend..You do me proud to just be writing along side of you..Good words to wake up to are always the best words....dana

[Emily B]

So many deaths these days. I was never afraid of dying but I really hate the thought of spending money on the acvoutrements of death. No box. No stone. I've known enough darkness. I hope they just toss my ashes on a windy day so at last I can fly

[h d e rushin]

I agree Ms Burns....Just a makeshift cross pounded in the earth (I've obviously watched too many westerns) we do find by me..Everything else is just excess.....Thanks for those kind words my friend...dana

[Corset]

omg I will never be able to sleep with my mouth open ever again, at least not without gum...or snoring

[h d e rushin]

and that's funny because I always sleep with my mouth open...Love you...dana

[Corset]

I try to never do that for two reasons, 1.) i need the roof, 2.) someone may put something in it, like smelly socks or whip cream, 3.) spiders

[Beccy]

There are more gone than there are left, perhaps more gone than there will be in the future, which seems a little bleak and perhaps not destined to last as long as we might wish. Wonderfully descriptive and innately you throughout; and it would be nice to think that a poet would indeed be the last person standing.

As for those monuments. I think trying to explain the large monuments of the wealthy would be a similar task to explaining to a Rio street child why some feel the urge to have solid gold taps and such in their bathrooms.

Function isn't all, but it's all that's necessary.

Beccy.

[h d e rushin]

excellent analogy dear Beccy. Thank you for those kind remarks my friend...dana

[h d e rushin]

excellent analogy dear Beccy..Thanks you for those kind remarks my friend....dana

[jacob erin-cilberto]

having lost so many relatives and close friends, i can see the roman numerals....and also in my mind all the questions i still want to ask...when i see my old dad now, he is 96', i am sure to ask many questions...but his memory is so slim...the answers are vague...i guess a lot of life is that way, vague...lots of misunderstandings...not understanding...and in later years not standing much at all.

great piece, dana....surely felt parts of this one so strongly.

j.

[h d e rushin]

so true brother Jacob...sometimes I feel as if i'm the last person standing. The last Rushin OMG.read moreso true brother Jacob...sometimes I feel as if i'm the last person standing. The last Rushin OMG.
Thankyou for those strong remarks my friend....dana