Dig - by Rand

She asked me
if I'd prefer to be
buried or burned

Buried or burned?
With no hope of return?
(or simply turn to avoid
burn, as in rotisserie)

I said Neither inside
but finally replied
that I'd been burned
before -- and survived

but hastened rather sad
to add Adrian said it best
Dig me, but don't bury me

When - by Debbie

When the light
comes to claim me,
I hope for good music
and fine, dark chocolate
waiting at the other end
as my friends share
silly stories and
finish with a song.

Deal - by Debbie

His teeth blind me
as he crooned his promise
but still I hesitate.

"You won't regret it,"
he urges, and slides
the document toward me.

The air around us
stills and waits.

Beneath my fingers,
the paper shifts
like a living thing
but before I can draw back,
sharp pain blossoms.

Looking down,
I see the red flower
spreading on the dotted line
beside his signature.

"Deal," he says,
then looks at me.
"Say it."

The pain in my hand fades
and I finally meet his eyes.

"Deal," I say.

And so it begins.