All Souls’ Day

His headstone verses were writ in water

They draw the eyes unto the fact of death.

Lichen lines love-and-only-love remember,

All we knew was eyes of deepest blue

Lines about the eyes, writ in blood

Or writ in water like mortal love.

Love that will always end like this.
Time weathers the stonemason’s art to a flat palimpest

Of hieroglyphics which resemble not the zest

Of pumping blood. Stones do not record the passing

Shadows of a glance, a look. Which speaks of kisses that we all desire.

So, eulogise our tear-filled eyes as we stare into winter

Disguise is less than futile,

For we must gather all the force that we can muster

To face our meeting with the fates on All Souls’ Day.