Love Poem: Bury the Dead
Stevenson Benoit Avatar
Written by: Stevenson Benoit

Bury the Dead

The rain pours down my face while lights flash in the distance

Among the ones once living, I choose the path of most resistance

Blood, sweat, tears, and rain mix as I grasp the wooden sentencer

Condemning to eternity the demons while my hands endure the splinters. 

 

The moon has left me, I’m alone on my mission

The clouds bear down with rain relentless

But I must press on to be set free

And bury the dead that dwells in me

 

Digging and digging but no hole deep enough

To be rid of these skeletons with time that got tough

And hardened with hate, vile, and discourse

To infect my being with no remorse

 

Pain shoots through my chest as my breath becomes ragged

The time is near but there is no casket

No viewing, no service, just a body and a grave

In this place called the land of the free and the home of the brave

 

No more shall my dreams and my life be altered

My visions are now clear and my step un-faltered

You have lived on way past your prime

And now I must say that you are out of time

 

I dig further until I reach satisfaction 

And as I throw me in, my face no reaction

I stand on the side as my face looks back up at me

I say a silent prayer and mouth R.I.P.

 

My body looks up back at me expressionless and cold

I throw on more dirt like it was foretold

That I would be burying the dead and living anew

And starting a new path without you

 

My body remains still as I continue to bury it

Knowing that a part of me will no longer be cherished

More tears come as I realize what’s done

But continue to move for I must move on

 

As I pat down the last of the dirt

The skies clear up to wash away the hurt

The moon looks down and says, “Job well done”

I look back at the moon and ask, “Now may I come”

 

The moon just smiles and begins to fade

And the sun comes in to usher in a new day

I pick up my shovel and walk back down the road

Fatigue on my mind but new light in my soul.