If I were to die, as we all must one day die
for I must return to Goa, my lifelong goal
I know Chicago is nice for Chicagoans
whether the weather itself is nice, I could cry
except not for me, don't cry if I am soon gone
rest assured, this life is a circle in a bowl
except not for me, I must return for Goans
take seriously nothing but mangoes and sand
of course, I will die not before I mow the lawn
defenseless, the child disappeared long ago now
if I could survive, I would save this world from fire
except not for me, I must milk the sacred cow
ask me tomorrow, how time moves within a gyre
strange to lie in bed, coughing, unwell, death at hand
work, I must postpone, I must not get others sick
except not for me, as for me it is too late
ask me tomorrow if I have an appointment
lest I forget why I place brick atop of brick
lest I forget why I survived in the first place
manifest relief, my vision will not abate
unabated love, I beat the drums to my bent
suffer the future, for the present is long past
to say nothing lasts, time dissipates into space
orbit memories, little brown bear, panda bear
no one knows whence gone, hence I as a memory
except not for me, with too much to do, I care
decisively but not unlike Pope Gregory
authority born of character, status cast
yesterday down deep in an active volcano
dive into lava, boiling, toiling on the sea
in a caravel, the Portuguese whom I flee
except not for me, in Goa, eating mango
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