Poem 44

Because we've arrived at poem forty-four

Allow me to take you through death's dark door

From belief Cantonese, well it’s pure superstition

an unfortunate link & a plea nay admission

That onomatopoeia has dictated decision

from Address to Birthdate

it’s time to obliterate

This crazy conception

a way of deception

That 2 times 2 which is 4 to most

but over on that Far East Coast

They cringe and deny

That what to you & I

Is a digit, a symbol, plainly just a number

Not the last thing you’ll see b4 your final slumber.

Because the Cantonese word for the number 4 sounds like the word

for death it is avoided whenever possible, addresses that end in 4 might

be changed to 4A birthdates may be changed & check the 4th, 14th etc floors

of buildings for Cantonese.   There will no doubt be revisions to this piece.