plenty of crude oil in the sea

When one spouse dies

there’s a brief window of opportunity

for an interested suitor

who wants to make their move

 

which comes in the twenty-four hours after the body is in the ground

but before any maggots hatch and mess up the best bits.

a shrill shriek follows me

My house is haunted by a demonic talking skull

but no one believes me

because it’s wrapped in human flesh and technically we’re dating.

**

This piece was curated with the explicit permission of my real-life girlfriend who asked I clearly state that I do not actually think she is an evil talking skull, and that I love her very, very much.