incessant

the chatter
the questions
"thankyou"'s

not one familiar face
until the hall clears

at the back
one friend
one less explanation

not one shed tear
until the hall clears

through the door
one friend
one shoulder

...

the hall was
filled with the
quiet noises of the old

bereaved saddened by the day
by the melancholy that shrugged
gently over their shoulders

loved dearly loved
by all those
brothers and sisters

never forgotten