i watch them,

standing outside
the funeral home;

smoking
trivializing
laughing.

"another one dead"
"another life over"
i can hear them exclaim.

"i remember when"
"i remember how"
"i remember the way he"
"i remember"
they continue....

cigarettes litter
the ground around them,
cliches and promises break the silence.

then,
a few hugs,
a few goodbyes.

until they get together to stand outside the funeral home once again.

only this time,
one of them is not present.