Death Echoes

After Poems in ‘Redemption' by Ananda, (the poet Stephen Parr) When a loved one leaves forever Like a remaindered book Like a door quietly closing Does death turn the lock on light? Nothing stirs in a coffin. Whatever nested on the tree of life Migrates The body's eyes roll up, Turn in Become sky mirrors, glazed. No cavalry comes riding over the hill Crying huzzah to the rescue Grief requires hard listening Most telling of all is silence Death takes time to sink a shaft in thought, Did the life of the dead one ever really fit them? Was it patched up, borrowed Or was it handed down? Does life fit everyone or are they shoehorned in? Left behind We wail at the aching void The certainties of our known world cracks We paper over the absences, over the deep crevasse