Thursday, April 19, 2012

In Memoriam

We found animal bones in a shallow ditch
in the dirt, on a side road
a few cars blurring past
vultures floating the circles high above the road.

Bones -white without flesh-
bones forgotten beside the road.
Bones unnoticed beside the road.
Partial skull, one side of a pelvis.
No last rites, no taps, no obituary.
No eulogy.

Was there a sound,
a gasp at the end?

Did anyone notice day after day
as flesh rotted away
maggots had their fill
bones became white in the ditch
white silence, deafening.

All the dead animals
All through time
All food for others
All part of a plan.

In biology books. In God’s book?
Georgia O’Keefe bones on canvas
known and unknown
seen and unseen.
Deep roots hold sacred stories
under trees shading the ditch.

We must notice, and remember.
And remember not to know too much.
We must remember.

Another vulture circles down the road.
An airplane flies above the vulture.
Thirty thousand feet above the ditch
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon.     
                                                                
                                                            
Christina Bellamy

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