When You Find a Dead Body Before You’re Twelve

When you’re find a dead body

Before you’re twelve

It’s important that you take that in

As a real

Coming-of-age

Sort of experience

Perhaps go on a road trip

Don’t drive

You can’t drive

You’re not old enough to drive

But maybe walk

Walk for awhile

And take a few friends with you

Be combative

Or silent

Moody

Sulk

Grumble

Whatever you feel

You need to do

To understand

This thing

That you cannot possibly understand

Meaning life and death

Mortality

The sensitivity

That comes

With the human body

And how easily

It can be reduced

To an empty microwave popcorn bag

On the side of the road

Do not touch the body

Do not report that the body is there

Do not tell the police about the body

Or a grown-up

Any grown-up

Not even a cool one

Not even your art teacher

Who has tattoos

And lets you draw whatever you want

Even if it’s naked people

Even he can’t be trusted

With this monumental information

Poke the body with a stick if you want

Don’t worry about showing it any respect

You’re not even twelve

You have no respect

Not for yourself

And definitely not

For the body of a stranger

Who looks as though

They’ve been murdered

Check to see if there’s anything

Near the body

Specifically a bag of cash

And if there is

And this is important

DO NOT TAKE IT

That will only lead to trouble

And you’re already in enough trouble

Because you’re not even twelve

And you’ve already seen a dead body

And when I say ‘trouble’

I don’t mean actual trouble

I’m not talking about you being grounded

I mean, ‘trouble’ as in, like--

LIke your mind is going

To be really

And I’m going to swear now--

Fucked

Over this

Like, forever

Like, probably forever

The road trip might cure it

But that’s doubtful

Although it might also

Teach you the meaning

Of friendship

But that’s also doubtful

And it’s doubtful

That you won’t grow up

To be a cool adult

Who really only seems cool

But is secretly

A fucking monster

Did you catch the double negative there?

Do you know what a double--

Of course you don’t

You’re not even twelve

But sometimes

Things show up

Before you’re ready for them

And this

Is one of those things

So look

But quickly

Then look away

Looking away quickly

Won’t lessen

The result

But staring at a dead body

For too long

Isn’t something

Anybody should do

No matter what age

You are