Sonnet To Be Read At My Funeral

They say that every time you take a breath,

   You will inhale at least one molecule

Of air exhaled by Caesar at his death

   When he cried: “You too, Brutus?”  So if you’ll

Indulge me here—breathe in, and keep it jailed

   Inside you for a second and a half.

I think it’s safe to say you just inhaled

   Dozens of molecules from Matthew’s laugh.

That bark—one half hyena, one half hen—

   That filled up bars and theatres everywhere;

That laugh that we will never hear again

   And always carry in us now, like air;

      A laugh that could bring chuckles from the grim.

      No tears.  All smiles.  Laugh, and remember him.

 

Copyright 2015 Matthew J Wells