WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

by William Thomas

Poetry

Just give me a moment 

While I get the hang

Of being outside

My body. 

I must’ve stepped 

Out of it,

Or it just fell off, 

Walking into town. 

That’s it down there, 

Already surrounded 

By gawkers

Glad it isn’t them. 

The Paramedic 

Looks up, 

Shakes her head, 

“He’s gone.” 

“No, I’m not!”

I soundlessly shout. 

“I’m right here. 

Look up!” 

I try waving

Like a castaway. 

But I have no arms. 

The ship sails by. 

“I saw the whole thing,” 

Someone says.

“One minute okay, the next 

That old geezer’s gone.” 

“Just like that, eh?” 

Another voice muses. 

“Wonder what it’s like, 

On the Other Side.” 

“There’s no such place,” 

Someone corrects him. 

Obviously an authority. 

I laugh. 

An elder’s voice, 

Hesitant,

Uncertain.

“Did you all hear that?" 

Nobody meets her eye, 

No one wants to confirm — 

Not a chuckle exactly — 

But... 

A cruiser pulls up, 

Lights,

No siren.

Two officers get out. 

Spreading her arms

Like Jesus,

The lady cop advances, 

Shooing everybody back. 

“What happened here?”

Her partner demands, 

Gesturing toward the discard. 

“He dead?” 

“Yeah,” the medic replies, 

Getting to her feet. 

“Looks like

Heart attack.” 

Everyone relaxes. 

Case closed. 

Idiots! 

I’m still here. 

Eying the meat wagon’s

Open rear door,

I experimentally, energetically 

Puuuuush... 

Door slams! 

Everyone jumps. 

“Just the wind,” 

First cop says. 

“Ain’t no wind,”

A local farmer points out. 

“You know darn well 

That were his ghost.” 

“Close his eyes!” 

Someone pleads.

The medic complies.

But I don’t need eyes to see. 

“Show’s over,”

The captain commands. 

“Everyone go home 

And gobble some LSD.” 

Eyes widen.

Nervous coughs.

Did he just say that? 

Or did I move his lips? 

Driver brings a stretcher, 

Jerks on the rear door, 

Pulls again...

“Jammed,” he says. 

A young woman moans. 

The cops go to guns.

Is it homicide 

To plug a cadaver? 

I’m enjoying this.

“Oh, Randy,” 

My mother interrupts

“What have you done now?” 

“Nothing, mom.” 

Turning — four again — 

“I was just coming

To see you.” 

Photo Caption

Cove Road -Will Thomas photo