the casket was open for the duration of the service a black hole beckoning, a step through the door the great unknown a muffled cough, a sigh, unease hung in the air, a cloying fog i sat near the back, observant of the dry eyes the looks of disgust the gathering - most here out of a sense of requirement than true feeling the few who knew, eclipsed by the underwhelming apathy even less approached the pristine coffin for a final goodbye those with a thirst for the morbid (likely) heartfelt (doubtful) "daddy always said - be committed in what you do" words taken to heart - evident in the cracked void left by the .44 exit disinterested in the false emotions of the living i leave - unnoticed a ghost at my own funeral