It’s strange, there was no pain. br The atom moves too fast for that. br It left my shadow on that wall, br There’s nothing else intact. br br It’s strange to die so quickly br I had no time for fear. br Swept up, as in a rapture br Less than a leaf, more than a tear. br br My conscious self dissolving br Like a sugar dropped in tea. br No body left to bury br You incinerated me. br br Elsewhere in the city br They’ll unearth a murdered clock- br It’s hands forever frozen br on the moment I was not.br br John F.