do it layer by layer

with the utmost care

not to damage the body—

something must be left to the fire—

blood will seep; do not worry

this cannot be rushed

say instead that inch by inch

is given up willingly

to rejected fate

creeping mist over fields in winter

that might have been graveyards

and may still be

as they who come here find their places

and wait to be buried by millennia

layer by layer

—

If you want to hear poetry from some Denver poets you can find episodes of a poetry podcast, The Poets, over at thepoets.co

Cheers!

—

Photo by Andrey Metelev on Unsplash