Beyond the Bones

I've never visited my grandparents' grave not since their burials many moons ago when I was young and didn't understand why people die I was apprehensive about it would they be mad at me for not showing up all these years? would they be sad I have stayed away so long? would they even know me? I took my granddaughter along a conversation breaker they've never seen her before it would be a treat for them to meet her I push Alyssa in her buggy she won't keep her hat on nor her mittens nor her boots Fernhill Cemetery brown maple and oak leaves chasing each other around the stones soon snow will cover this cold hill but for now poppies and flags still decorate after recent days of remembrance there's a chill in the air wind whipping off the Bay of Fundy nothing warm about this place except squirrels playing tag Bartlett, Frank & Jenny E. he was a woodsman she, a wonderful cook I can still picture them at the kitchen table playing Crazy 8's him, coming down hard with his fist, "Take that then!" her, daintily placing cards down on her way to a satisfied smile of victory him, building a log cabin from scratch near Cappal Lake her, kneading dough nails scratching an old tin basin my grandfather died first so they were separated for a time now together again sealed in still exclusive to each other winter will soon cover them with a blanket of snow I don't feel sad and no need for guilt after all my apprehension dismantled for I'm aware they aren't here I see beyond the bones