Walking Over Bodies (poem)

All copyright remains with the author. No use of any kind is permitted without express written permission from Melanie Heard.

Walking over bodies…

With a lawnmower

Making noise.

Like a hornet on a stick

Or a piercing great bird.

The bodies don’t notice…

Don’t sit up and say

Hey!

Stop it!

Ever heard of rest in peace?

I’m sleepin’ here!

No.

Walking over bodies…

The men make crazy patterns

Like circles in the sand.

They move their army boot feet

Across Respect.

Over Admiration.

Stepping mindlessly on Dignity’s ear.

I wonder who told them it was okay

To tread so heavily?

To stomp their dusty boots

Where past lives lie sleeping.

Walking over bodies…

Now there is only noise

And crumpled flowers

In cellophane.

A note that says…

I remember you.

I haven’t forgotten when.

I miss your heat.

I wish, I wish, I wish…

And cars whiz by.

Like me

Watching them.

Walking over bodies.

A poem I wrote after watching men mow a cemetery.