Sweet'n'Sour Grapes (Poetry)

They’ve canonized you, praised you, one and all;
in death, it seems, you can do no wrong
and you would squirm if you were here today
and I was in that box. What would you say
about me? Would you celebrate
and dredge up anecdotes to demonstrate
what a truly super person I had been —
so loyal and loving — such a fun-filled friend —
so brave and witty right up to the end?

They’ve painted you so perfect — blemish-free —
your goody-two-shoes halo shining bright —
it sounded so rehearsed — too pat — too trite
to be the whole truth. The side of you I knew
was much more human, less the angel bent
on spreading light around herself, but simply lent
an ear; was kind; had doubts; admitted flaws.

This too-sugared eulogy gushed wordy without pause
for any variation on the theme.
I winced for you and pencilled, thought by thought,
small footnotes of the less angelic sort.