Death in Hampden

I want to be impaled
on a pink flamingo
laid out on
John Waters lawn.
I want to see cat eye
glasses mist up
while Kix plays
the Colts marching song.

I want to hear tributes
in Roosevelt Park
extolling my humor
and charm.
I want to know
mourners: both
family and friends
do actually give a darn.

I want to be buried
in black and orange;
clutching my
Mike Bordick bat.
With two balls which
bear the name of Tom Phoebus
and my fading
Curt Blefary hat.

I want fragrant flowers
say, Black-eyed Susan’s
to drape my pine
shipping box.
I want half a page
of newspaper print;
memories from that
cherub named Jacques.

But even with tributes,
and flowers and song
and ink in
the Baltimore Sun,
One thing I would ask
writ upon that
flamingo:
“Thanks for dropping in on us, Hon!”

(Lede photo: Image by Davgood Kirshot from Pixabay)

Anthony C. Hayes

Anthony C. Hayes is an actor, author, raconteur, rapscallion and bon vivant. A one-time newsboy for the Evening Sun and professional presence at the Washington Herald, Tony’s poetry, photography, humor, and prose have also been featured in Smile, Hon, You’re in Baltimore!, Destination Maryland, Magic Octopus Magazine, Los Angeles Post-Examiner, Voice of Baltimore, SmartCEO, Alvarez Fiction, and Tales of Blood and Roses. If you notice that his work has been purloined, please let him know. As the Good Book says, “Thou shalt not steal.”