"Recipe" by Michael Pollentine

Something my wife

Pointed

Out

Last night:

More of my friends

Are dead

Than alive.

It is common

Stains

Decrease

Yet I am only 41.

More of my family

Are dead

Than alive.

I have a list

Of people

Who

I speak of

In the first tense

Who

Can only be expressed

In the past.

A soup:

Suicides

Cancers

Cars

Bursting

Hearts

Haemorrhages

Drownings

Alcohol

Substances.

Sludge.

There is no meaning to be found in lists.