Begin with what is closest to home,
what died most recently; the dog, the cat,
your love for that girl that meant everything,

hollow out the shell.
unpacking is often hardest,
not the waiting,
whatever Tom Petty suggests.

Rummage around inside the carcass
removing anything vital; organs, sinews.
the passion by which you used to set your clock,
odd concepts that meant so much,
such as loyalty, honesty, commitment.
Rebuilding will commence,
once the carapace is empty.

The choice of stuffing is a personal one;
hemp, wool, paper lovingly recycled
from weekly local rags; or else fall back on obsession.

Don’t worry too much about the final shape,
overloading is a common complaint for beginners,
filling the void helps to forget what you have lost.

James James
Morrison Morrison
Weatherby George Dupree
Took great
Care of his Mother,
Though he was only three.
James James
Said to his Mother,
"Mother," he said, said he;
"You must never go down to the end of the town, if you don't go down with me."

James James
Morrison's Mother
Put on a golden gown,
James James
Morrison's Mother
Drove to the end of the town.
James James
Morrison's Mother
Said to herself, said she:
"I can get right down to the end of the town and be back in time for tea."

King John
Put up a notice,
"LOST or STOLEN or STRAYED!
JAMES JAMES
MORRISON'S MOTHER
SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MISLAID.
LAST SEEN
WANDERING VAGUELY:
QUITE OF HER OWN ACCORD,
SHE TRIED TO GET DOWN TO THE END OF THE TOWN—FORTY SHILLINGS REWARD!"

James James
Morrison Morrison
(Commonly known as Jim)
Told his
Other relations
Not to go blaming him.
James James
Said to his Mother,
"Mother," he said, said he;
"You must never go down to the end of the town without consulting me."

(Now then, very softly)

James James
Morrison's mother
Hasn't been heard of since.
King John
Said he was sorry,
So did the Queen and Prince.
King John
(Somebody told me)
Said to a man he knew:
"If people go down to the end of the town, well, what can anyone do?"

J.J.
M. M.
W. G. Du P.
Took great
C/o his M*****
Though he was only 3.
J.J.
Said to his M*****
"M*****," he said, said he:
"You-must-never-go-down-to-the-end-of-the-town-if-you-don't-go-down-with ME!"