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Illustration: Wem Town Hall Ghost, public domain

Butter and Bread

by Vincent Francone

Capping a night of long conversation

I said: It’s a certainty that you’ll live 

well after I’m dead.

In an effort at levity, you replied 

that if I died you’d immediately 

join a nunnery 

as if I were Hamlet imploring 

and making reference to 

imaginary whoring.

But why would you want to sacrifice your life

because I had the bad taste to die?

You smiled, said you’d be well taken care of— 

God would be your butter and bread

more than I gave you living or dead.

Vincent Francone was born in 1971.  A veteran of the legendary Aspidistra Bookshop, he spent years as an autodidact before earning a BA from Roosevelt University, where he now teaches first year composition and the occasional literature class, and an MA from Northwestern University.  His work has been published in Rhino, New City, Akashic, and The Oklahoma Review among other journals, and he won first place in the 2009 Illinois Emerging Writers Competition.  He lives in Chicago with his wife and his Chihuahua, Haruki.  

Connect with Vince online: http://www.vincentfrancone.com