'We commend unto thy hands of mercy
most merciful father
the soul of our departed'
The gravedigger lowered a body unto the waiting sod
to lay in loneliness
whose identity is only knowen to God
He utteres a prayer in silence
as he nailes the pine board down
for an unknowen found in an alley downtown
he wonders what life this body could reveal
if it rose from the pine board seal
All hopes fade when capped with a concrete crown
all that he shall ever know is that a tear could not be found
The ledgers above the tombs tell only the climax of a dream
'A young woman found floating in a swolen stream'
One that tells of loneliness, and it tells it well
'A traveler found dead in a transit hotel'
The painful one, tells of our country's shame
'A child died of hunger, she without a name'
Don't let the youth's death disturb you
for relief has been sought
Today, unlike yesterday, she got a separate plot
The gravedigger rased his lowered head and
looked to heavens high
holding his hat to his heart
as tears rolled from his eyes
He spoke!
'Dear God, I pray for mercy, not for these departed beings, but for those now living who won't acknowledge lives mothers held so dear, with a silent prayer, or to even shed a tear'
Dale Cody
Dale, this could be an exceptional narrative poem with a good, hard edit and re-write. I tell you this because I like your theme and much more about it. No one said poetry is easy. Like a tickle, pain with pleasure. Good luck and keep writing.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
A very good narrative. A well articulated piece. Thanks for sharing.