[And Now] Your Imaginary Funeral

when you’re dead [you know]

one thing’s for damn sure

it’s not going to be “Mr. You” anymore

it’s going to be  [he], [she], [it] all the way down

and there’s going to be a funeral

[don’t say you haven’t imagined it]

and at that funeral you’re [more or less] the host

planted  [in the lobby of some drive-by Holiday Inn]

greeting people as they come in

assuring everyone [that everything’s] okay

but wait []

at your imaginary funeral you’re dead {…}

so instead there’s really [nothing] to do

and so far [everything’s going pretty well]

and remember that secret you wanted to take with you to the grave?

well it looks like you finally made it

[except for that stuff in your second desk drawer]

which will eventually turn up

but forget about it

[what does it matter] it’s all good

I mean

who likes waking up anyway [?]

[going to work] [hatching some little plot]

[going out to lunch] thinking of something to say

[dinner in silence] and [a couple of shows] then sleep

[isn’t that what we’re talking about] and then

it starts all over again

no wonder the Buddha and all those ancient gurus

were always trying to [you know] liberate themselves

from the eternal cycle of birth and rebirth

but

at you’re imaginary funeral you’re thinking

maybe next time [I’ll get a better role]

move up the [food chain] you don’t need to be the star

you’d be happy with “Best Supporting Actor” hell

you might even get your own [show!]

but [at your imaginary funeral] you’re dead {…}

so [in your imaginary casket] you’re really just all eyes up

and appearing [rather flat]

when some half-remembered neighbor

[who seems to have forgotten how to tie his tie]

comes up [a dab of powdered sugar on his whiskers]

and looks into your imaginary box

and [with the inquisitive eyes of a dentist] asks:

"so tell me, what it’s like down there?"