I. The First Day
What?
Wait...what?
No.
How? When?
Why?
No.
What?
No.
No no no.
Thank you
for coming
Thank you
for coming
Mmm, bagesl
and lox, thank you so much.
You know you
meant a lot to us.
Thank you
for coming
Thank you
for coming
Mmm,
casserole, thank you so much.
You know you
meant a lot to us.
Thank you
for coming
Thank you
for coming
Mmm, white
fish salad, thank you so much.
It means a
lot.
Yitgadal
v'Yitkadash.
Thank you everyone,
please go away now.
Go away.
Go away.
Thank you,
Amen.
III.
Sheloshim
Everyone
went away.
Especially
you.
One month
later
And I don't
know how to be.
Stop it.
IV.
Eleven Months Later
Today I
brought a bottle of Scotch to shul
And many
little plastic cups.
And just
before the Mourner's Kaddish
I stood up
and announced the unveiling.
Eleven
months since you died.
I told a
funny story
And poured
out a drink for anyone who wanted one.
It was
nice,
We toasted
your life.
But you're
still dead anyway.
You're still
dead.
And I think
I"m a little drunk.
V.
Two Years Later
It's Yizkor
on Yom Kippur
And while
the rabbi reads off the names
I'm going
to tell you an embarrassing secret.
Sometimes
when I'm watching TV
And an
older couple comes on
In one of
those commercials for Social Security supplemental health insurance.
And even
though the dialogue is hokey
And the
situation is contrived,
They are so
warm and familiar with each other,
And you
know they have been together for a long time
And plan to
be together for a long time to come
And I can't
help it,
It reminds
me of you.
I know,
right?
But I can't
help it,
It makes me
cry.
Only a
little.
After all,
It's silly,
It's only a
commercial for Social Security supplemental health insurance.
Oh, the
rabbi just got to you.
It's good
to hear her say your name again.
We remember
you, together.
Amen.
