Afterlife.com by Julie Roorda

Cyberlimbo teems with the ghosts
of those who’ve forgotten their passwords,
What was Mother’s maiden name?
What about the dog that ran away?

No matter.  History is redundant
once you pass through the faux-pearl gates
of Disney Heaven, to which your profile
may be transmitted by facsimile.  No ID required.  

What a relief to be released from memory-
laced muscle, earthly remains mere carbon-
capture vessels, breath of life exhaled
as fine particulate ash. What a blast! 

    In the end, flesh becomes The Word™.
    You too can live forever.

Julie Roorda is the author of three volumes of poetry, most recently Floating Bodies (2010), all published by Guernica Editions. She has also published a collection of short stories entitled Naked in the Sanctuary (Guernica, 2010) and Wings of a Bee (Sumach, 2007), a novel for young adults. She works full-time as a freelance writer and editor.