slipping keenly into bright ashes,
target of vanilla tears
your sure body lit candles for men
on dark nights
and now your night is darker
than the candle's reach
and we will forget you, somewhat,
and it is not kind
but real bodies are nearer
and as the worms pant for your bones,
I would so like to tell you
that this happens to bears and elephants
to tyrants and heroes and ants
and frogs,
still, you brought us something,
some type of small victory,
and for this I shall say:good
and let us grieve no more;
like a flower dried and thrown away,
we forget, we remember,
we wait. child,child,child,
I raise my drink for a full minute
and smile.