THE DEAD MAN TO HIS HEIRS

by John Grey

The view from the coffin

is a welcome change

from what I saw

through bleary eyes

on my deathbed.

Despicable relatives,

treacherous so-called friends

and all manner of toadies

no longer hold their breath

for my last puff of air.

Now, their nerves

are on high alert,

in anticipation of the reading

of the will.

The words of comfort

are as insincere  

as a Tammany Hall politician’s.

The tears are still fake.

Even the one who smothered me

with that pillow

could give a bawling crocodile

a head start

and beat it by a lachrymose gallon.

They’ll get their share

and then their descendants,

their hangers-on,

will wait impatiently

for them to die.

They think they’re getting money.

But I will to them voracity,

distrust and hypocrisy.

Oh yes, and a pillow in the face

when they least expect it.

John Grey is an Australian poet, U.S. resident, recently published in Sheepshead Review, Poetry Salzburg Review, and Hollins Critic. Latest books, Leaves on Pages, Memory Outside the Head, and Guest of Myself are available through Amazon. Work upcoming in Ellipsis, Blueline and International Poetry Review.

Ann Marie Rhiel is the Assistant Art Director for Yellow Mama Webzine. She was born and raised in Bronx, New York, presently living in New Jersey. She reconnected with her passion for art in 2016 and has had her work exhibited in art galleries around northern New Jersey ever since. She is a commissioned painting artist, who also enjoys photography. Her work has also appeared in Black Petals and Megazine Official.