A little too late

A Poem by Maxwell Ryder

I am Cadaver. My name is John. One night I came in to the morgue, went straight on ice and on to science; I’m from East River - shiver me timbers! I fell in during the March blizzard. I’m freezer burn- and cold sore. I’ve I got this honey touching my junk that I adore; and we didn’t even get drunk; and here I am naked and an absolute bore. Take it easy, girl, I’ve never been touched there before. Why didn’t I meet you while I was still alive; now I can’t blush and stink of formaldehyde. Baby, you eviscerate me. You got me in my birthday suit on our very first night. You look into my eyes, minus my corneas. If I tried to kiss you, would you scream or would you cry? I fear your love will send me into further cardiac arrest. But what I really fear is that knife in my chest. Your love, at first, cuts me skin deep; it’s tender; I don’t bleed. But then I can’t breathe. Now you want to open my rib cage - give me my space! My heart, don’t try and dissect! I always wanted to date a Columbia pre-med with a pretty face, and here’s my wish. Here’s me - or what’s left. Darling, you came a little too late.