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While clouds gathered to reflect
His clan
journeyed to give him respect.
A 21-shell shot saluted the air
It felt dark putting him in the earth.
We shoveled. Jealous of the shovel’s
skill
a Jack Russell terrier attacked.
Sharon interrupted her dog
We
shoveled and shoveled some
more.
Time for his monument
Time for the children
to help.
We gathered boulders, one at a time
Finished. Gone …
We hiked to the summit
The sky opened, and
I knew he was there.
The forest clasped woody
fingers,
pulling us back to camp.
His Wake began laughing and
posed
like Paris.
Children caught fish proud
Our tears flew to
the creek.
Salli Randall McQuaid, 2005
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