After my mother’s death, her belongings devitalized
Her furniture: tables and chairs in a secondhand store
Her flatware; somewhat less than service for eight
Her clothes: just rags in some cartons for Goodwill
Floating lifeless amputated from person place time
All wrapped up with some flowers, and a plain pine box
A graveside ceremony, a polyester rabbi, a summer rain
A granite engraver just itching to make his marks
An estate lawyer salivating for his probate fees
Everyone is just trying hard to make a living
