THE ETERNAL WHY

A BOY AND GIRL BY A GRAVESIDE IN 1961

There was fresh flowers
on the grave
that Jane showed you
outside the small church  

the sun was warm
and cows
were just over
the hedge surrounding

you could hear them
munching the grass
and trotting by
unconcerned by death

or the symbols
of death
and Jane said
the tractor fell

on top of him
the other month
you stared
at the flowers laid there

colourful
bright in the sunlight
a small glass vase
holding a smaller bunch

child picked maybe
they'll have to
move out now
that he's dead

it being
a tied cottage
she said
and you could see

the sadness
in her features
the tearful eyes
mouth slightly open

words like
broken china pieces
where will they go
the mother and children?

you asked
the local council
will house them
I expect

she said
she gazed at the grave
and bent
and picked up

a small flower
from the nearby grass
and laid it
by the other flowers

God bless him
in His peace
she said softly
the cows

stilled munch
over the hedge
a bird called
from the hedgerow

you looked at her
standing there
a blue ribbon
in her dark hair

her green top
and black skirt
knee length
sad end

you said
yes
one of the dangers
of farming

she said quietly
she moved away
and you followed
and she held out a hand

and you took it
and went
into the small church
and sat

in one of the pews
inside and stared
at the stained glass windows
sunlight pouring in

like liquid gold
touching
the flagstone floor
and pew end

at the front
and her hand
still held yours
warm

alive
blood pumping
along arteries
life and living

and she and you
and outside
he sleeping
in his God's peace

and the cows
munching the grass
and birds calling
from hedgerows

and sky
and always
with you
the eternal why.