They all stood silent
or: Their Own Funeral

They all stood silent
with their hats in their hands
while trumpets marched
and drums tapped out
important steps to be taken.

They all stood silent
with their hats in their hands;
their heads empty now, they saw
few lead, many fight, all wait
to be sunk in scooped out earth.

They all stand silent
with their hats in their hands.
Even when shouting a path through loud bodies,
or clinging to tolled stories,
hammering huge engines.

While perfect birds, feathered out
and decked with shining lice
tug shrieking for gristle scraps,
they all stand silent
with their hats in their hands.

27 November 1990