tuesday, january 10

— it's a strange winter in the middle places
bare ground in nebraska, the land is full
of the golden color of an october-november not yet
wrung out by ice and snow

in kansas the day of the service, a growing wind
snaps and rattles at the graveside tent
i've been afraid the preacher will give voice
to some sickness, some hate
it's easy enough to imagine
but in the end it's just the old words

god the father almighty
maker of heaven and earth
ashes to ashes
dust to dust —