Means of Transport

It’s assumed that when we die
we fly or float away.
I’ve never heard it said
that the soul walks out the door
like it’s going to 7-11
for a Red Bull and some cigs
or takes the bus, deepening
the natural silence of
strangers drowning in the self
or hops a ferry across
the Mississippi to find
the afterlife bears
a resemblance to St. Francisville,
Louisiana, where
it’s hot as Satan’s crib.
Speaking of burning up,
I’d like to think the soul
melts like butter on a griddle,
and somebody I love
takes the next bite.

Mark Jackley
Mark Jackley
Mark Jackley's poems have appeared in Fifth Wednesday, Natural Bridge, Tampa Review, The Cape Rock, and other journals. In 2022, Main Street Rag published his latest book of poems, Many Runs Will Rise. He lives in northwestern Virginia.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Subscribe

READ MORE

Five Poems

Dear Person You Think You Are Ask the person you think you are if she needs to lie down on...

Personal

The elevated words of sorrow the priest says in the church seem to comfort some whose losses are private and probably immeasurable. If you...

Train Overflowing

One man dug into the last seat as though to disappear & I didn’t know my husband was dying Lovers returned...

Death of James Dean

The one who is rarely, if ever, discussed is Donald Gene Turnupseed, the driver who collided with James Dean on the 13th...