village verse
Exits
We dug out graves properly then
shaped to the coffin,
sides vertical from the top
right down to the ground
so that descent couldn't be stopped
not fully down
by an untrue wall
and we lined the top with turf
carefully cut and placed
each sides very carefully
almost lovingly traced
in a fresh and gentle green
to add a little softness
to a mostly sombre scene.
We tried to work with dignity
to spare those that stayed to the end,
not spoil their last memories
of family or friend.
Each grave gave up some secrets
for our burial ground was old
and the new shared their ground
with the remains of those long cold
and an almost final act
before each hole was closed
was to place back secretly
those bones that we'd exposed.
and reclothe the wound
with living grass.
shaped to the coffin,
sides vertical from the top
right down to the ground
so that descent couldn't be stopped
not fully down
by an untrue wall
and we lined the top with turf
carefully cut and placed
each sides very carefully
almost lovingly traced
in a fresh and gentle green
to add a little softness
to a mostly sombre scene.
We tried to work with dignity
to spare those that stayed to the end,
not spoil their last memories
of family or friend.
Each grave gave up some secrets
for our burial ground was old
and the new shared their ground
with the remains of those long cold
and an almost final act
before each hole was closed
was to place back secretly
those bones that we'd exposed.
and reclothe the wound
with living grass.
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