Lamentation

No one could bury you.
In the year of no snow—no softness—
the ground froze hard as a tomb.
You died in the seasons deadlock.

In the year of no snow, no softness
until spring, you lay in the charnel house.
You died in the seasons deadlock—
the grass grown brown and sleet-enameled.

Until spring, you lay in the charnel house—
the roses, winter-killed, earth solid with ice—
the grass grown brown and sleet-enameled.
Deer froze to stone on the mountain.

Earth solid with ice—the roses, winter-killed,
the ground froze hard as a tomb.
Deer froze to stone on the mountain—
no one, not anyone, could bury you.

 

© Patricia Fargnoli