when walking 

through a cemetery

with someone who is dying

 

our respective children 

bundled in coats so puffy 

they could drop to the ground 

and bounce right back up

 

But you will fall soon

and never rise,

details of day and place

the only unknown

 

The children revel 

in disheveling the snow

romping around tombs

 

pronouncing the names

calculating the dates

especially those 

who departed young

 

What is there to say

when we know

you will be among them

 

I don’t even know 

if you want a stone

or what words

would sum you up

 

you who are a teardrop

in the eye of God

no prayer to withhold you

from their open hand

 

you who are unknown

to almost the whole world

who will not be missed

 

except for a fierce little cluster

whose love will not save you

 

What is there to say

as I watch you in glances

trying to spy on your soul

 

The children find the graves

graced with weather-beaten treasure

beads and bottles 

fake flowers and flags

 

maybe we too will lay

such gifts at your feet

 

until then I give you this

 

a dream of life

a silent collusion

​

nothing left to say

but to gather the children

and walk away