"Saving Body Parts" by John C. Mannone, Frequent Contributor

Saving Body Parts

John C. Mannone

Just save my heart, and what,

trample on the rest of me?

Maybe save my head, I’m always

losing it; hold that thought.

But you asked how, not what

is to be saved. That’s easy

I want to save all of me

and I do not mean to be pickled

in a bottle of formaldehyde

or stuffed with herbs and spices

for the sarcophagus. Okay. Keep

the spices in there; I don’t want any

beetles gnawing their way to my bones.

I suppose I could be cut into little pieces

on a medical table. The steel is cold

but I wouldn’t feel any of it. Really,

what part is more  important than

any other? Clearly, it’s my feet

because I won’t be able to stand

it, around where I might be going.

Maybe save a leg, I want a leg to stand on…

The rib cage, yes, that’s more important. Save that.

I can remember myself better by it.

And I can keep it in the closet

with all the other skeletons; it shouldn’t

rattle them too badly. I love

my funny bone. Wait. That’s in

my arm… arms. Save the laughter

in case I get sad. Yep, forget the teeth,

I don’t want to be gnashing.

Or my eyes. Don’t save my eyes.

I don’t want to be weeping.

Just save my soul, and the rest

I will get when I come back.

So, okay, go ahead, donate that old

worn out body to the worms.

You can save that for them.

Poet’s Notes:  Occasionally, I’ll try to write a funny poem to lighten up the sad atmosphere of many other poems. I try to finesse some of the clichés intentionally used here (they are easier to use in funny poems for some reason). I forget exactly what it was that started this poem. It could have been thinking about checking the organ donor box when renewing my driver’s license. The mostly short couplets seemed to fit a stand-up comedic form.

Editor's Note:  Here's a related tune (tangentially referenced in the poem) to cheer you up after reading Mannone's macabre take on death and organ donation.  Enjoy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gfhQ91rwZ8.