We buried you today — flowers, hymnals

dirt clods, shovels

 

Your death was unexpected, unapproved

What were you thinking?

 

There on the stone

name engraved, haughty dates on obscene display

surely dignity requires a quieter memorial

 

For you were small and little made of

your voice could barely pierce the ether

that wove itself about your huge soul

 

But when you did speak, the birds knew it

the fish floated instead of swam

a tremendous audience for such a tiny poet