By: Carl Papa Palmer

Ceremonial cults of self-martyred widows
commemorating grief with daily pilgrimage
gladly bearing the burden of grave site visits
as purported auditors assessing each and all
burial plots for familial survivor upkeep.

Every headstone birthday and death date
celebrated, observed and bear tribute
with physical evidence the anniversary
of the interred had not been forgotten.

An unattended, unadorned memorial
is a fate worse than the occupant’s death.