His feet press gently on the pedals
More pianist than driver.
The black hearse slows to the church
An inkblot spreading on white paper.
He opens the door for the grieving
Remains solemn as duty expects.
His eyes look down at pebbly gravel
Feels it within him as if made of concrete or hard minerals
Ready to decompose into the ground.
It has been just a week since he returned
After his compassionate leave came to an end.
Charlotte Cosgrove is a poet and English lecturer from Liverpool, England. Her work has appeared in Trouvaille Review, Dreich, The Literary Yard, The Broadkill Review, Wingless Dreamer, Confingo, Beyond Words and various anthologies online and in print. She is editor of Rough Diamond poetry journal. Her first poetry book Silent Violence with Petals will be published with Kelsay Books in June 2022.
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