The Priest's Funeral - an art work by T Newfields (c. 1971)

A Priest's Funeral

Now he who has laid so many to rest
is finally at rest himself
& this solitary figure who guided many
in their varied quests
faces upward, lips still

Buried in the same soil as previous parish priests
near pebbles carried by ancient glacial streams
his corpse rots slowly
in a Hope & Dexter No. 7 casket
while a congregation of local merchants,
perplexed children, absent teenagers,
& bored housewives
chant hymns about our Final Reckoning

& then when this service is over
check their SNS updates
to plan their remaining days