He had a clean white shirt on br when he died. br The mystics were pleased- br No trail of saliva, br nor blood, br and no trailing of excrement br leaving his underclothes. br This meant God felt he was clean br like the day of his wedding. br br In a hat he married br when his bride wore faux blossoms, br white bedbugs buzzing near his brim, br he waiting for that kiss br at the end of the ceremony br when laughter was withheld br from their pathetic souls. br br This was fifty eight years ago, br a rare widower he was, br collecting spiders in oriental vases, br and speaking to crickets br the mystics knew.