Leaving Us Behind Poem by Martin Lochner

Drunk, medicated and a whispering crowd
praying my calm

escorting what remains aching
the path leading to you is lined
with poplar greens playing violin
with the wind

seeing the cavity in the ground
wishing to fill it with my body
laying on top of you
saying: ”let them bury us together”

hearing a knock on the casket
a distinct whispering voice asking
“let met out”

fighting your brother
and the gravedigger that throws
dirt in your face

“ she is alive” I said
“she is gone” they said

the surety of death
confirmed when our baby asks:
“where is mommy daddy”

looking up in the twilight sky
I was surveying for the answer
Sparing the kid I said “she is with Jesus”

Abruptly leaving...fleeing the thought
“a hallmark Bon voyage of nothing “

aggravating consolation and sympathies
future stiffs eating yeasty cucumber triangles dipped in tea
wise cracks watching, touching and mentoring me

“stay away” I said “go away “