Bruce Morton

The Skeleton in the Closet
 
As proverbial as he might be, it was
Good to see he was hung, not hanged,
In the closet, suspended on a hook grinning
Wide, jaw set firm, gaze straight as marrow.
If there is a life after death, it is best to be
Doing something useful. In this case, just
Hanging out was useful, to be waiting to be
Wheeled out on a trolley to teach anatomy —
Thigh bone connected to the hip bone
Connected to all the other bones. It does
Not matter that ligament, tendon, muscle,
The gristle, are not there. That will be left
For the cadavers and grosser anatomy.
Oh, and if rattled, he dances to human folly.

Bruce Morton divides his time between Montana and Arizona. He is the author of Planet Mort (FootHills, 2024) and the chapbook, Olive-drab Khaki Blues, forthcoming from FootHills Publishing. His poems have appeared in numerous online and print venues. He was formerly dean at the Montana State University library.