Pied tombstones circumscribed
by misted mountain nearing
under adumbral clouds.
Pressed down by black umbrellas
timeworn melancholy mourners
slate-faced under chrome-combed hair
stone-eyed through mantilla mesh
their kindred ebon overcoats
casting contoured silhouettes
on granite-gabled chapel wall.
Vestment black and collar white
protect priest mumbling doubtful aid
that begs a leaden counter-lie
from peons’ pæan in undertones
of hum-sung hosanna…hallelujah…
Grave digger in grey dungarees
smokes withering butt
breathes ashen veils
in weeping cinereal rain
as all fades to grey.
Fugitive Fragments 
Wonderful images in this poem, Mike. I especially like ‘chrome-combed hair /
stone-eyed through mantilla mesh …’
For the same reasons I can now detect descriptive detail inherent in ‘Wraiths of Morning’ here also. We are now linked in more ways than one click Polly.
I spotted that too 🙂
Great minds… (;
What an exquisite piece!! Each syllable, seducing my minds visual… Wonderful Mike 🙂
I’m really pleased that you picked up on the detail (I sweated that here!) Thanks Megan.
What amazing descriptions and fabulous write-up. You’ve put in a lot of effort here. so glad to see your post again
Thank you nl for your genial appraisal and yes, this one did take a bit of thought but having that recognized by an admired peer is something that makes all the work worthwhile.
You came back with beautiful style! Love this piece. Welcome back!
Thank you for these lovely words Skye – I’m so pleased that you appreciated this piece.
You are very welcome…Thank you! 🙂
Very well done.
Maybe they’ll read this poem aloud at the funeral of a Metallica band member after singing a rendition of Fade To Black.
An honour indeed, thanks DVH. It occurs to me that this scene would be right up your alley (:
Welcome home Mike! Love this piece. That’s how I want to be laid to rest.
Thank you – I’m pleased that it gave you a template for your own party 😀
Nice use of the image. Excellent description.
My many thanks joe.
Wellllllll…. there he is! Missed the heck out of you my friend 🙂
Thank you old friend – good to be back with the pack.
Powerful……and Somber
Much appreciated, thank you. I enjoy your work.
The same here……many thanks!!
the somberness is palpable. I can feel the sadness upon the most melancholic of durges.
Sombre. That’s what I was reaching for here b and you are quite perspicuous to have identified it – thank you.
Great to see you back!! This is wonderful – dark, brooding, real – very well executed!! 🙂 🙂
Thanks for your insight into this piece Helen – your acumen in analysis is particularly valued here.
Very nice to see you back among us. You were missed. 🙂
Great to be back in this coolest of gangs Phoebe.
Hurray! I’ve been so inpatient to catch another escapee of yours, and this one is an especial delight given I often contemplate death (not in a morbid goth way, but as a Momento Mori to propel me into this life). Great writing and worth my LONG wait!
The recent file that you sent with your cake is a large part of my latest breakout Rowan Taw and your approach to corpse-planting is typical of the insight that haunts your own poetry.
Glad to have helped free a fellow inmate!
Mike, nice to see you back writing!
Thanks John – good to be back.