I hope when it happens

[I hope when it happens]

By Diane Seuss

I hope when it happens I have time to say oh so this is how it is 

happening

unlike Frank hit by a jeep on Fire Island but not like dad who knew 

too

long six goddamn years in a young man’s life so long it made a 

sweet guy sarcastic

I want enough time to say oh so this is how I’ll go and smirk at that 

last rhyme

I rhymed at times because I wanted to make something pretty 

especially for Mikel

who liked pretty things soft and small things who cried into a white 

towel when I hurt

myself when it happens I don’t want to be afraid I want to be 

curious was Mikel curious

I’m afraid by then he was only sad he had no money left was living 

on green oranges

had kissed all his friends goodbye I kissed lips that kissed Frank’s 

lips though not

for me a willing kiss I willingly kissed lips that kissed Howard’s 

deathbed lips

I happily kissed lips that kissed lips that kissed Basquiat’s lips I 

know a man who said

he kissed lips that kissed lips that kissed lips that kissed Whitman’s

lips who will say of me I kissed her who will say of me I kissed 

someone who kissed

her or I kissed someone who kissed someone who kissed someone 

who kissed her.