Johnny Dead

By Cliff Lake

 

Johnny Dead

 

Apt pupil,

Johnny learned the lesson of Value early.

He learned that owning the best made him better.

Better than others,

Better than most,

Better than you.

Johnny was better,

And he did not allow anyone to forget it.

Johnny drove the best car,

To the best school,

With the best girlfriend,

To learn the best profession,

To buy the best home,

In the best neighborhood,

And have the best wedding,

To breed the best children.

When Johnny was fifty,

He got the best cancer,

And died fast.

He had the best funeral.

And Johnny stayed dead.

Johnny’s relatives all hired the best lawyers,

To divide the best of Johnny’s erstwhile,

As they saw best.

Now, those former possessions were held in escrow,

To gather dust,

To gather rust,

To become obsolete,

No longer necessary,

But still solicited.

But Johnny stayed dead.

He was very good at it.

But really,

No better than any other dead...

The competition is rather fierce.

 

Cliff Lake 5/30/2024

Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024

Location: Wichita, KS, USA

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