Community Mausoleum

[Philatone]

The tile was slipped into the wall
by stubbled men in dusted jeans
as ties and lace entered the hall

to see the home you never saw,
but bought for space to rest in peace.
The tile was slipped into the wall,

a front door sealed off with locks
without a bell for us to ring
as ties and lace entered the hall

dressed in shades of ironed coal,
uniform as nights of sleep.
The tile was slipped into the wall,

herded back into its stall
along a row of shelved deceased
as ties and lace entered the hall,

processing from the funeral.
We lay a hand no one will meet,
the tile slipped into the wall,
our ties, our lace outside your hall.