Poetry for the People Student Poem: KIM KLUGH

What the Obituary Didn’t Say

By Kim Klugh

 

was that she preferred a tidy life, uncluttered,

with all the crumbs and dirt swept

up and out the door

all surfaces scrubbed free of grime

and gleaming with no traces of her being left

upon the counters nor the floor.

 

Few were those she drew close

they who knew her said--

no surprise that when her heart-beat stilled

no funeral was unfurled.

She’d not endure a corporal viewing

no line of gawking mourners

no final glimpse she gave

of burial she’d have no need

since she spurned the grave.

 

Down by the river-side a small assembly waited

while her wishes they carried forth as ashes

each scooped a palm-full and released her

among the ripples, among the rocks and water

she’d abide down deep amid the sand and silt

well below darting shadows cast

by trawling marble-eyed catfish

sifting, scavenging

through bone dry ash.

 

 

Kim Klugh writes from Lancaster, PA. Her publishing credits include the Intelligencer Journal, BusinessWoman, “b” magazine, Susquehanna Life, Central PA Magazine, Byline and Lancaster City Living. An essay of hers is included in the Adams Media My Dad is My Hero anthology. Her poetry has appeared on vox poetica and in Eclectic Flash.

Comments

[Kim Klugh]

Thank you Sage, for sharing this space with us, your grateful students.

Kim

[Brad Nelson]

Kim,

This is Brad from Eclectic Flash. Did your email address change? I have been unable to contact you, and thus have been forced to track you down through other means. :-) Would you mind emailing me at my EF address?

Brad