Burial

A straggle of figures litters the path Stumbling, windblown, straying apart, A ragged assembly against graphite clouds, Inky - black smudges blurred by the rain Flapping dark shadows, crows circle above them. Struggling, the figures cluster together Wearily shuffling, standing then slumping. Rag dolls with stuffing steadily leaking. Far away faintly, a wind-torn crying, The fading call of a solitary bird Nearer, the sound of someone sighing And the soft thudding of falling earth.