(c) December 7, 2002 Justin Eiler
Notes: My daughter's kitten died December 7. If you've ever buried a loved one--human or animal--then you'll understand. If not, look at Harlan Ellison's "The Deathbird."
It's easiest to fill the grave. The shovel scoops the clay around, I let it fall into the hole, And with my foot I tamp it down. My dog was old, and sick, and tired, And cancer ate him from inside. Mine were the hands that held his head, He wagged his tail, and then he died. It's easiest to fill the grave. The Mad God on the mountaintop Has poisoned earth, and air, and sky, And I am here to make it stop. The Earth was dying, sick and cold, And had been turning far too long. I was the one who called the 'Bird, Mine was the hand that stopped the song. It's easiest to fill the grave. The Deathbird stoops, and silence reigns. It wraps the Earth up in its wings -- And I go where there are no names.