In the past we busted ass
To dig that six foot hole
No more no less
The depth was blessed
Laws said
It must be so
My father feared
Being buried alive
I almost put a bell
In his hand so he
Would know I
Listened for the knell
No embalming
No pre-view of death
No stones were piled
Upon the grave
To keep
Wild animals away
For in the past
Graves didn't last
High waters
Wild animals
Construction
All took away
Ashes to ashes
Dust to dust
I think in death
We may discover
It's not an ending
Simply an Other
19 comments:
Very well done Gail. My Father asked not to be buried, long before he passed away. He wanted to return to ash and be scattered to the wind. "Ashes to ashes and Dust to dust.
Wow that was hugely moving and powerful.
i believe it was much better way back when to just wrap the body and bury or just a simple wooden box to go back to dust. now they make us use concrete vaults and big caskets.. this is really good Gail and i got it right away
Nicely done and reflects our attitude to death here Under The Porch Light.
Nice touch about placing a bell in his hand.
It's not an ending but a beginning of a new journey.
This is a beautiful poem. LOVE the closing lines...
I'm with Alex..like the idea of the bell. I'll be cremated and scattered to the wind.
i can attest to my dogs (and the coyotes) digging up quite a few buried animals around here (horses, mules). mine have been buried deep with a ground mound over them. :)
Very touching!
For me I want to be cremated and have my ashes spread in the woods . Lovely written . Death is not the end just a begin to the after life . Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !
Really well done, Gail!
Simply an other- I agree! Funny how words play such an impressive role in our thought patterns! I nearly missed this tasty nugget. Burial is one of those words that give me pause, to read or not to read, that is the question! See it's what happens when you grow up in a world of Dr. Seuss, The Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins.
Great poem, Gail. It speaks of the very core of human fear, tradition, and life and death. I have heard about the bell before. My grandmother told me how people used to do that sort of thing.
Very well stated! I told my daughter I wanted to be tossed out in the desert. But I would settle for ashes.
A new beginning...just so.
I think that is a common fear with a lot of people. I saw a documentary about being buried alive and it was horrific - and this was recently, not in 1800 or something.
Lynne x
There are laws to regulate the final days. But at least it gives leeway for individuals to state their preferences on how best to leave this world! That is good enough! Thoughtful write Gail!
Hank
I think you are right....death IS not an ending. We definitely don't know what it is, but I try to think in a positive way.
The lines about your father are especially striking. Thanks. k. (Manicddaily)
This could be a book, Gail. And those last two lines... fantastic!
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