At the Cremation
Smoke filled the air
Joy and sadness mingled with dust
Twisting writhing spirits in the sky
Dreaming of the day we touched the ground
All the love and time that streamed across the plane
And wound down
The pyre floating in the sea
We watched for remnants
Of what used to be
All of our memories
Written across the sky
How could we be happy
But we needed to be
As this is what was meant to be
Time is just a measure
It’s the words that create the page
The chapter ends
Another begins
Eyes staring out across a horizon
Of light
All clouds unobscurred the path
A smile and a conversation had
As tomorrow might not be so sad
The journey begins today
Discarding the weight of the body
That reaches the sky
That touches us with rings of smoke
And all the loved ones wave goodbye
The portrait measures its final stroke
And we remember all the words,
Written or spoke
How will they see us tomorrow
When we’re on our way
What will they say another day
When the wound is somewhat healed
Only a glimpse of the pain
For the soul that’s gone away
We wait here on the shores
And will follow
One day soon
To rise among the embers
Of our lives
and forever shine anew.
9-26-11