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THE ETERNAL WHY
There was fresh flowers
on the grave
that Jane showed you
outside the small church
the sun was warm
and cows
were just over
the hedge surrounding
you could hear them
munching the grass
and trotting by
unconcerned by death
or the symbols
of death
and Jane said
the tractor fell
on top of him
the other month
you stared
at the flowers laid there
colourful
bright in the sunlight
a small glass vase
holding a smaller bunch
child picked maybe
they'll have to
move out now
that he's dead
it being
a tied cottage
she said
and you could see
the sadness
in her features
the tearful eyes
mouth slightly open
words like
broken china pieces
where will they go
the mother and children?
you asked
the local council
will house them
I expect
she said
she gazed at the grave
and bent
and picked up
a small flower
from the nearby grass
and laid it
by the other flowers
God bless him
in His peace
she said softly
the cows
stilled munch
over the hedge
a bird called
from the hedgerow
you looked at her
standing there
a blue ribbon
in her dark hair
her green top
and black skirt
knee length
sad end
you said
yes
one of the dangers
of farming
she said quietly
she moved away
and you followed
and she held out a hand
and you took it
and went
into the small church
and sat
in one of the pews
inside and stared
at the stained glass windows
sunlight pouring in
like liquid gold
touching
the flagstone floor
and pew end
at the front
and her hand
still held yours
warm
alive
blood pumping
along arteries
life and living
and she and you
and outside
he sleeping
in his God's peace
and the cows
munching the grass
and birds calling
from hedgerows
and sky
and always
with you
the eternal why.
