they washed with care her frail shell,
wrapped it in finest linens,
upon the sound of ponderous knell,
laid it upon their pinions.

at first the light too great to bear,
bade her rise through ether,
and swift she rose up through the air,
leaving Earth beneath her.

Wooden, stilted, they walked the walk,
Before the human trail,
Whom, in silence, made small talk,
In air of muted wail.

Myriad souls of yesteryear
smiled as if to greet her,
whilst others seemed to bear a tear
in standing there to meet her.

***** and shovel hit the earth
'fore pall was slowly lowered
in reverse of giving birth
in bed of pebbles bouldered

celestial court of judges three
convened assembly august
her life and deeds for all to see
in lights of golden stardust.

sheets and blankets of soil and clay
were draped over her casket,
wherein her silent body lay
as tissue cast in basket

her book of life was signed by her,
her thought and word and act,
the good desire and bad of fire,
soul in body's contract.

the mourners, friends, acquaintances,
lingered another moment,
before in solemn cadences,
left the ground's endowment.

her very own hand had her peached,
the walls of house bore witness,
her greed 'n avarice her impeached
proclaiming her unfitness.

'she was a good lady', they nodded sagely,
in deference to custom,
with wave and nod, a touch too gravely,
they left the palace o' bunkum.