Tombstone I

When I was  four or five

I swallowed staples in a magic effort

To impress a boy who had never seen stationary in his life

His parents’ faces turned ghostly white

Overheard "what a disappearance act the magician did"

They frightened us both to loud cry

Messenger sent out on foot to reach my parents overnight

 rushing steps companied by oil lanterns loom light

Massive remedies applied to save my life

Long night waiting, crowd gathering

Death seemed too fast approaching

fear of dying, I began stories telling

“All of you as witnesses to my death

Please bury me on top of the mountain

Plant a small tree as my tombstone

Into the soil which covers my tiny body

Upon my parents return from their journey

 sorrowful tears would water the tree

The tree would grow and blossom

I will hear their longing calling

Underneath from the shallow grave

They would pass out holding the growing tree

Knowing my spirit has returned to be their child again…”

Stunned audience broke to applause

  Laughers chased death into dawn

My parents arrived, everything turned out all right