The Punchline

There are certain flowers
that have names
and then names
which have no flower.
I am thinking of the
the name
Burnt Sickness
which swells in the
throats of students
unable to overcome
finals.
There is always a final
even if you believe
in successive finals
strung together like
necklaces.
I prefer candy necklaces.
What I like about that sort
of necklace is the candy
which is bad for my
teeth but who cares?
My teeth are on a
necklace my daughter wears.
She’s no cannibal
but try telling
her that.