A nothing from nowhere cast his words to a world wide wind, hindered by periphery. |
It's Hard To Bury A Friend, Alone Another Piece Of Me I set my foot on the flat of the shovel; dig. The blade slices the hard soil. My boot slips on the steel back, gathers, pushes deeper. The curved spade finds space, leads the handle to lean into my chest. Hands obey the lever's weight, as we lift earth from its grave to pile on sodden ground. By now, rain dampens the back of my neck. It's a fine mist. If I were in a different mood, I'd be cursing the gods instead of thanking for the relief. In rote manner, I execute the ground with a muddy blade, open an underworld and find a final resting place. A blue shoe box lays on the grass beside me, silent. I remove the lid and view a furry, limp friend I wish to warm again beneath sad, gray clouds hovering. Secured in a small cavern to be remembered, and likely forgotten, I pick up the instrument. My tool skips awkwardly along small rocks and mud, scrapes the mound over its former void. With a few pats from the tempered steel head, the long handle is sent to meet below my hands and chin, consider a few words, memories so humble, unrelatable to others; and think, I shall own no other. Because in passing, each will take another piece of me to the ground. 6.29.21 4.11.23 edit 39 lines, free verse I got out of bed to write something, this, so I can get back into bed, and hopefully find peace, sleep. Thanks to: The Knife Sharpener's Bell (2014) for inspiration...Free On Google Books (page:146) I googled the words: "lean into it hard" and this is one of the results I got (phrase never applied to poem. Maybe, another?) https://books.google.com/books?id=nDAQAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA146&lpg=PA146&dq=%22lean+har... There's an abundance of great, free writing out there to inspire. |