Where shall we put the bodies, sir,
fifty thousand more today
and that is just at dawn
the cemetery’s gates are chained,
undertaker’s curtains drawn
curtains drawn good man? this will just not do
dig another trench, deep and wide;
but do not upset the people,
dig it out of sight
dig it out of sight dear sir?
the woods beyond the city are full,
there are few spaces now to hide
perhaps we should head further out,
in the flowery countryside?
in the flowery countryside? yes, good man, that might do
there is no time to spare
and do try to be good,
place them down with gentle care
place them down with gentle care, of course I want to sir,
but backhoe bucket does not allow
for gentleness in placing down;
perhaps some farmers will lend a hand
farmers might lend a hand good man?
indeed, this could save time,
now be sure to bury them deep enough
in the flowery countryside
in the flowery countryside is where I’ve been, sir,
and farmer’s time was loaned
we did run out of markers, but
we marked the places with stones
marked the places with stones good man,
that was very kind
sadly now, you must stay
away from the flowery countryside
the farmers cry, no more! no more!
and leaders claim this problem is not theirs
perhaps the only thing to do now, good man
is load the trucks and head towards the capital city’s front stairs
—July 4, 2020
