Just About Dark

Temperature dropping

sucked away into night

brittle pasture grass 

beginning to glitter 

mirroring fractured 

moonlight

Crows above my bent back 

silently watch 

camouflaged with soot  

patient or curious 

I can’t tell and don’t care

busy heaving grave dirt 

bloody sun slipped away

in the last hour

Oak leaves shatter beneath 

clay caked boots heavy

I’ve been digging since noon 

and now I’m ready

burying any body 

takes awhile

the hole is easy to dig

harder to fill

with those you love 

Time to wipe your hands clean 

and say something

say anything 

other than just 

goodbye 

dazed, helpless, alone

unable to muzzle

my rabid mouth

not a single god showed up 

to help dig this hole

so I did it all myself

Poured out my love

shamelessly 

everything that was left inside

tossed into the grave hole

with a marigold seed and the silver ring

you gave me

buried till spring 

I prayed graveside all night

on my knees

begging for a resurrection.

I know eternity exists.

The stars must listen.