Rest Eternal Poem by Les Littleford

On million dollar land
overlooking Coogee Bay
lie hundreds of graves.
Memorials to cardinals, sailors, politicians
and tragically young children.

The monuments huge, minimalist,
gaudy and plain, all share regret, love, loss,
eulogise a life,
and proclaim safe eternal rest.

The graveyards tumble down the slope
once cherished stones in arresting disorder,
weeds and thistles wind their slow decay
and proud statues lose fingers, hands, even heads.

Moss erodes the loving words composed
by those themselves long gone.
The only colour a pathetic bunch of wilted flowers.
Plastic.

Sitting atop the tallest statue
perched precariously on a tilted, broken arm
a Raven, cawing,
Nay laughing
At our arrogance.