when you die
this lady named alice
but probably karen
walks you across the street
she’s wearing an orange stocking cap
white sam browne belt and black galoshes
she carries a stop sign
a giant red ping pong paddle
she looks left and right then left again
holds up her sign to fend off traffic
then delivers you just short of the other side
safe with your classmates
to where maybe your house is
or apartment complex
or the laundromat
where you wait for your father
then she says your name
like oh max I didn’t see you there
have a great day and say hi
to your mom for me okay?
then alice heads back for the next batch
and you think to yourself oh geez
I hope I didn’t forget my history book again
and that’s pretty much it
you see when you die
this lady named alice
but probably Karen
shepherds you across the street
