A Fat Person Dies
& on the news, one quarter of the reacts
are laughing emojis. A fat person dies &
their grieving family creates a press release
adorned with the connections of family.
A fat person dies & people see
their body as a foregone conclusion.
The world is in no way lighter.
Light no longer reflects in their once-
smart and compassionate eyes. A fat person dies
& their soul goes into that
ineffable place. A low pressure system
shrugs its familiar unsettled path
across the Ohio River Valley.
2 thoughts on "A Fat Person Dies"
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So aptly conveys the assumptions and values attached based on social norms. Love the way it moves between the perception of the deceased as a human being versus just “a fat person”. Bravo.
This poem encapsulates what society is and the stigma associated with size. What an important poem. Thank you for writing it and sharing it with us.
“A fat person dies & people see
their body as a foregone conclusion.
The world is in no way lighter.”
Powerful.