Death Of A Neighbour

Did he survive?
I was hoping he'd die,
throwing his paper-thin acting
into a muddy river.

But no.
You tell me he's alive
in a hospital bed.
I should've known.
He's too big a star
at the moment to die.
If he did,
his would be a clean,
blameless exit -
a trip to Europe
or death by terrorists -
one over which I'd grieve
for a while but soon forget.
They'd deny me the pleasure
of his body floating face
down in the fast current.

But I can wait
for his death
in the bright Oz sun.