Is death contagious?

 Is death a contagious disease,

passed on from one mutt to another?

Or is the writing of poems about it,

the infection?

Look, O my God he’s broken out in death.

Don’t go near him.

Wear a mask.

Protect yourself 

or else you too

will start writing about it,

and there’s no known cure.

Not even an aspirin 

will take away the malady.

It’s not death that parts us, 

it’s writing about it,

which is sweet sorrow.