Farewell Brother

#FAREWELL, BROTHER by Hannah Rain Lowering him down upon his curved back, On silky blue sheets, all pleated and tacked, A pillow they stuffed beneath his cold head, And combed his gray hair, that once was bright red. Then buttoning his tweed, colored dark blue, They crossed his thin arms and tied his black shoe. His leg they stretched out, his eyes they sealed shut. He’s thin as a pole, where once bulged his gut. Completing his pose, they closed the lid tight, Thus shutting him into perpetual night. While sealing him in, they shook and they sighed; Tears for their buddy could never run dry. And grasping the rails, six men then lifted, Heaving and hefting, as their feet shifted, Tucking a shoulder 'neath a sharp edge, The men now a square bore their friend’s bed. Then slowly they marched, to breach in the earth, And lowering him in, respected his worth. Standing they pondered their suffering in war; He’d been dismembered, and never restored. The lemon trees close by, dropped sun colored tears, Reminding the men how bitter the years Would be without him, whose one legged jokes Provoked them to laugh, but irked the grim folks. Shoveling his bed o’er, with grayish brown dirt, Despite clunks and thuds, not one of them shirked. ‘Cause each man did know, deep down in his heart, Their brother did sleep, did briefly depart. They knew they'd see him, once Christ opens the sky, When graves open up, and they will arise; For hearing God’s voice, His heavenly call, They’ll bolt awake and meet Him one, all.#