The Business Of Death

Passed by a funeral home~ with the undertaker standing on the door step...........

He stood upon the door step

Measuring wind, sun and rain

Bony knuckles creaking

Fingernails historically stained

A face that counted heartbeats

A mind crammed with memories

Smile he'd forgotten to assemble

In his countless shallow breaths

He knows me

From under his sinister eyes

No shadows pass through

And no sound does he utter

But he knows you

My spine straightens

Feet bones spring

Gathering pace, finding space

Not today

Will your hands find me

Nor my skin will you lay your hands upon

Or fold my layers of clothing

Under your skylight of gone

Not today........

Shall you take your time

Rearranging my limbs

In limbo

No............

I shall be soundless

While I feel you coveting me

For nothing is on offer for your coffer

Unclothed and untouched

I pass you by

Today.

Reviews

[Chad Wesley Allbrett]

Creepy! I liked the line, "Fingernails historically stained" yeah man! Thank you for sharing.

[Red Raven]

-'while i feel you coveting me'
Powerful touch.
I love reading your poem as was always.
Keep writing.

[Libby McKeown]

The last stanza brings this amazing poem home! I think my favorite line might be "a face that counted heartbeats." It's such a nonchalant way to invoke a certain in the reader's mind. I instantly saw this face, and I suspect other readers do too, but for each reader the face would be different but just as tainted with death. I am very pleased I did not pass you by/ today.

[Crow]

Imagery of darkness, yet truth in observation.

You inspire me to think beyond the obvious.

Wonderful!

[TL Boehm]

a face that counted hearbeats. Oh - that is a STELLAR line in an amazing poem. Brilliant writing.

[Donald Meikle]

How odd it is how we are inspired, and yet, the flow of thought that rushes as the words need to be written, and suddenly it seems, it's done.
Excellent work, today!!

[soneutral]

I agree with the people who say this poem is dark, but at the same time it's enlightening. We never think of how a person (an undertaker in your poem) can have such a big role to play in our lives, and I think you gave a history and a profile to a person we know exists, but have never met.
I thoroughly enjoyed your poem. Great job!

[Marie Harrison]

Very dark

[Joshua]

Great work.

[Craig Froman]

This is so brilliantly dark and rippling through the mind, echoes of coffin nails dancing. The thought of death for profit, and tis always a need. (I actually drove a hearse for a short time while at uni. Just couldn't do it.)