into the earth

into the earth

today I bury
Mary & Will’s son
Patrick’s brother
my father

back to the earth
I give
the man who called me Hon
whose chest rumbled
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
in my ear every year

I bury snores that shook the house
and the click of the La-Z-Boy footrest
snapping into place

into the open ground
I put the smell of Scotch
and the crack of ice
the scent of Marlboros
and aftershave

I bury our single game of backgammon
and our many King’s Quests

here in the loam
I place Sundays
of Canadian bacon and eggs
glass Pepsi bottles
and the crossword

I bury a rough cheek
and a black fur fedora
with a jaunty red feather
old galoshes and new Buicks

under the turf
among the roots
I lower
our disappointment
yours and mine
at being who we are

today my heart heaps
soothing Walnut Creek clay
to bury the weight of trying
to ask the right questions

now I put the memory
of holding your hand
trying to undo loneliness
deep into the soil

today I bury
Ma’s grandson
Bill
my only Dad