And what was the third thing?

Or did I just dream

A more multi-faceted philosophy.

After all, I graduated top of my class

Having learned about love and death

And maybe that other thing

Which I cannot now remember.

To be honest

I am dissatisfied with myself

Petty, fat, ungrateful, soon dead

And lightly mourned.

I planned a big hoe-down for when I died

Four white horses stately down Main Street

Obelisk and marble urns, wreaths and sobbing citizens.

But now I’d rather slip out unnoticed.

I’m not cynical, just that my mourners

Know they will end up in a cardboard box too

So they cry, tell stories about how lucky I was

To be their friend

Then eat canapés and leave before the speeches.

Unfortunately when you are gone

Your own philosophies

Get buried with you.

Love, death and

What was that other thing?

I can’t remember for the life of me.