Stephen P. Miller

FUNERALS

No end seems in sight.
It is what war brings.
What happens after the killing
When the remains are brought home
When Flags fly
and we all stand
to salute and cry over the dead?

There are no criminals here.
Only victims brought to the grave
where humanity stands in long lines
to murmur blessings
before throwing dirt on itself.

In New York, after the bombing,
the Mayor asked for more people to attend.
To help carry the coffins, fire the rifles, play the music
that sings the sacred song of life.
And to hold steady, the hands of those whose grief
leaves them shaking with despair.

This is the sadness of ourselves.
The carnal knowledge that the world carries
from funeral to funeral
from parent to parent
passing it down from generation to generation
illustrating that we still are afraid of ourselves.
Still inherently drunk with the pleasure that comes
from the methodical butchering of each other
as to believe this is fun.