the black cross in tear-stained ink

when I die
my ashes in a wooden box
will be placed somewhere
high on a indiscriminate shelf
among the soulless swathed in white marble
or at least the desperately lost and their gold letters

I already have the box...

who will mourn me?
who will come to renew the lilies
who will survive my love to remember
my wrinkled face
and the light in my smile?

when I die
the pain of passing alone
will cause the leaves to wither
wolves to howl
and newborn babies to weep
no one will tell me gentle lies
of brief comfort, quiet remission
for when I die
those I love will long have learned
to ignore my silent pleas for tenderness
and will not mark the day in their calendars
with a black cross
written in tear-stained ink
resembling my eyes



the black cross written in tear-stained ink
23 october, 2006
0.45 am