When I was in my youth,
I didn’t read the obits.
No one I knew died,
no one called it quits.
At middle age,
I noticed them more.
A little bit curious,
about what was in store.
A little bit older,
when a friend from school
died at age 50,
it just seemed so cruel.
When I turned gray,
I didn’t read them for fun.
What I wanted to do,
was say “I outlived that one.”
Now when I read,
I look for that year,
if they’re older than me,
it’s a reason to cheer.
When You Die They Publish Your Age