how to: immortalize a body
embalming: to forestall decomposition.
begin by washing the body
in germicidal soap. be sure
to massage the limbs—
cooperate with rigor mortis.
then pose the eyes
& shut. make them look
natural.
then—
read to the corpse
the definition of graceless &
use an adhesive
to shut the mouth.
Julia Rose Merante is a senior English (creative writing) major at SUNY Geneseo. She studies poetry and has two minors: biology and human development. You can find her work featured in Equinox, 30 North, and Glass Mountain Literary Magazine. Next year, Julia plans to attend law school to use her communication skills in forever righting wrongs. She wants to keep telling stories, learning new words, and watching crime movies with her mom.