R. Gerry Fabian

New Suit Metaphor

I have worn it twice this week. (Relatives both -
who outlived their friends. “Inevitable” seemed
to be the religious mantra.)
The scent of flower arrangements and freshly dug dirt
invading it.

I splurged on the suit.
Good material, custom tailor, conservative style
three piece and two pairs of pants.

This suit knows its final resting place.

What the suit needs now is a wedding.
It needs to dance
and soak in the perspiration
of hugs and song
until it exudes the scent of joy.

Caretaker’s Lament

Gathering up the tears, he places them
in the last
of a dozen buckets
he has arranged
for the task.
These tears are gray, cloudy
and weigh a great deal.

They are almost useless except to wash away
the dust on the sidewalks. though he has
never spoken of this to anyone.

He prefers
cleaning up after weddings.