Buried

First published in Presence #70, July 2021, pages 100–101. Originally written in February of 2014 for my dad, who died on 26 January 2014 at the age of 85. See also “Into a Roiling Sea.”



ashes to ashes—

the grey of dad’s drawing

from his childhood


snow on the hills—

the drive to the service

seems so long


cloudy but no rain . . .

I need another metaphor

for dad’s burial


discussing the weather . . .

splotches

on my funeral program


open to freezing rain

the roses

on the casket


a cappella hymn—

a few snowflakes fall

into dad’s grave


memorial service—

mother has decided

to stop dyeing her hair


slow eulogy—

my wife slips me

another tissue


the burial service

runs a little long—

cracking sky


hands clasped—

a snowflake melts

on the wooden casket


funeral’s end—

my reflection missing

in the frozen puddle