Jerry and Jeff Don’t Believe In

by Kenneth Pobo

Jerry and Jeff don’t believe in

an afterlife even though it cries
in a playpen near the broom closet.
They don’t hear it—
or see the playpen.  Neighbors
hear the crying.  They knock and say,
“Stop that baby from crying!”

What crying?  A week ago
the afterlife broke out
and crawled into bed with them.
Jeff growled, “Mitsy, you bad cat!”
Jerry turned over–another bad dream.

In the morning they banged
into the playpen, not even an ouch
for a stubbed toe, turned on
another game show
where people who will soon be dead
win wonderful prizes.