Funeral. A poem by Anne Kenny

there were four of us
one priest
four pallbearers
two gravediggers near

no grandchildren,
hymns, or ceremony,
memories, or tears

we stood two metres apart
separated by a virus, by fear

no embraces, or words of comfort
no mention of how we loved her
only a graveside blessing

a prayer, a psalm
a spray of white lilies
a bouquet of yellow flowers
a wreath from a sister
and a mother
no longer there

……..

Anne Kenny’s poems have been published in various journals and anthologies, including Blue Dog: Australian Poetry, Mirror Writing: An Anthology by Common Room Poets, Contemporary Haibun Online and Be Not Afraid An Anthology.