Elegy

Fingers bent in brackets -

Shield the candle’s flame.

It is bending backwards

Closer to the frame,

Liquefied and molten,

Now, - just smoke and air…

Once, I used to hold it -

Now, it isn’t there.

Once, he used to hold me, -

Now, I stand and stare -

From the heavy coffin,

- lighter than the air,

His soul, detached, will rise

In an upward curve.

His massive body lies

Six feet in the earth

In full depth and breadth,

Heavier than a sigh.

Lighter than a breath,

- one foot in the sky…