Enter Home Planet News Poetry of Issue #5                         Page 40
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Business Formal

Death happens every day, right?
So why is this undertaker sporting
a white scarf that drifts to his belt?

And a sculptured mustache to boot—
at least he’s wearing a black suit,
but he’d probably prefer a tux

and tails to go with the scarf
and jaunty mood. I guess a couple
thousand bucks will do that, especially

if it falls to him several times a week.
I take the obit from his hand, say it’ll
appear in tomorrow’s edition, but will

edit to the paper’s specifications.
The cuts won’t dampen his spirits
or move him to ditch the opera wear

that I’m sure will carry him
like une carte blanche into and through
his next engagement with the living and the dead.

  John Zedolik