A Perfect Day for a Funeral
driving through a funeral procession on College St.
the Catholics are crossing the road in
lonely groups of one
black umbrellas overhead to hide their saintly anger
the rain, daunting
this man or woman--who
were they, and will they have a gift
for the Holy Virgin despite their
bereavement?
jewelry of some kind, or a scant chant
jewelry like the women wear into the church
angelic brooches, earrings given by grand-
children, and you, lady in black--is that
a pearl necklace?
the air, pungent with old flowers and mothballs
three dark death wagons brave the train tracks
unhindered by flood puddles
unscathed by those conflated
with somber prayers
across the way
a cross to bear
Those last two lines kill me.
ReplyDeleteKinda pun-tastic, huh? :-)
ReplyDelete