Wouldn't It Be Nice (poem)

Wouldn't It Be Nice

wouldn't it be nice if
I lived in a culture
where death could be chosen
as a celebration
of life?

(hear me out)

old age is a time of reflection
(with me so far?)
much of which for me is gratitude
(the details don't matter)
which means my situation is
rather like a jock's at the end
of a fine career

man we played some great games!
man we gave it our all!
man the memories are sweet!
(want to see the press clippings?)

but, you know, the stories get old
the 99-yard run and all that
and the audience gets smaller
and eventually I bore even myself

let's face it
my jock days are over
and there's nothing else I really
want to do

(this is just a comparison, remember)

at this moment, wouldn't it be nice
to have a farewell party
a wake with the (future) corpse
as host
(a farewell wake, get it?)

and everyone would have a grand time
sharing special memories
saying goodbyes
hugs and tears
and then everyone would
go home

except for the doctor and a special few
and I'd go to bed where the doctor
would administer the shot
and that would be that

sweet dreams, the end

wouldn't it be nice if
death could be a celebration
of life?

(instead of life being what it is
this interminable waiting
for the bus, wondering
why the hell it's so late

and where the hell we'll be going
if it ever gets here)

--Charles Deemer