Christian Burial

We cross the resilient lawn,
stepping over flat stones,
engraved names, lives
encapsulated.

Under the corrugated tent
on green folding chairs
we pause
as his bronze casket gleams
golden in the shade,
you faithfully standing
by his side on this
burial day.

Touching the cold metal
one last time,
I peer down
to a new
deeper place

and see how sharp angles,
hard, cold walls rise from
the dark concrete floor.

Like Lazarus he will wait
under the tomb’s heavy door
for Christ the Lord
to call him forth
and at last free him
from death’s dark ties,
raise him high
into the living Easter light.