Katrina Kaye

The enormity of death can be too much
at times; the finality of it, too overwhelming,

so instead of contemplating prayers or words
of solace, the void is filed with the ordinary.

How important these sweet rituals,
these sweet, sweet rituals of routine
that once seemed so meaningless,

but now hold the only kind of salvation
that can comfort.

Tomorrow   we can talk of heaven.
The day after, discuss the roles of

death and then

the philosophy of a life well lived.

At some point    we can talk about
dinner plans and the obligations
of the weekend, at some point we must

be able to   compose a way through all those

things left   behind, but for now let there be
silence. but    for   now, we can    remain together,

hands close, but not yet    touching, learning
to form   words    as     if    for    the    first      time.

 

“After the Funeral” is previously published in Amazine (2025) and the Literary Underground (2025).