Funeral March

Descending into the valley
the guardrail is weathered
from exposure,
pock-marked with oxidized bubbles.
The basin is green pooling to burnt brown
and cut on the north
by a stream that swirls between eroded rocks.

The stream rolls
like a standard in the wind
or silver hair
laid at the feet of a corpse.
An offering for coming so far
out into the wild!

An autumn bird glides overhead
warming its belly against the earth.
Its shadow caressing the sharp blades of grass.