Every death is negotiable. An earthly agreement between God and the ground. Terms are written at birth, a newborn contract signed by the baby’s foot. In most instances, the baby will live a long and prosperous life. In some cases, SIDS will claim childhood like a jealous viper. The earliest known funerals consisted of flowers and antlers: tulips atop tombstones. Caskets were the choicest plots of dirt; the good died young, and the bad don’t always die first. Every contract has always been sealed with a handshake and a Hail Mary, a gentlemen’s agreement with Mother Earth. The devil has no say in the matter and can only accept second-hand souls, leftovers destined to expire. Every infant’s first cry is essentially last rites.

Daniel Romo Daniel Romo is the author of When Kerosene’s Involved (Mojave River Press, 2014) and Romancing Gravity (Silver Birch Press, 2013). He holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte, and he is an Associate Poetry Editor at Backbone Press. He writes, bench presses, and rides his folding bike in Long Beach, CA. More at danielromo.net.