How It Was

The road we travelled was the usual oneUphill and down it wound its way betweenPale fields of grain and woods of darker green,Skirting the river where cool waters run,Glassy and blue beneath a summer sun.Along the way, scarce noticing, we passedHouses, barns, pastures thick with cows. At lastWe stopped before a graveyard, journey done.

At her grandparents' tomb I took a spadeTurned up the sod, and put her urn beneathTo be with them in place and time and death. Then as I covered up the hole I madeMy ears were opened and I heard the strongAnd living sweetness of a robin's song.