As conversations sometimes go
a competition of tragedy
tongue cancer just last year
left a baby behind
and seven-year-old twins
a construction accident
quadriplegic, married his nurse
she left him and took
the insurance money
I wait
chomping to add my shocker
to the pile
the most ohmygods
wins.
Mine was about whisky
and hemorrhaging
immigrants
death.
At home later
I made cookies without
a recipe
just licking the bowl
until it tasted right
and when they were done
I realized I forgot
the oatmeal.
I wept
and when my husband asked me
why
I explained
how relieved I felt
to be
sad.