This Poem was Submitted By: Doris C. Swearingen On Date: 2000-07-10 22:46:05 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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Digging William Faulkner's Grave - July 1962

The thump of the spade turning mounds of dry earth gives its own cadence to the hot, yellow of morning. Charlie spades, waist deep in the Yoknapatawpha county grave. Charlie digs, Joseph waits his old black hat  crumpled in his calloused hands. His wide, dark face hums "Amazing Grace" as Charlie lends the rhythm of the digging spade ka-thump, ka-thump, ka-thump at William's grave. Faulkner roots run deep  here in this Oxford earth twisting around three generations . Its Nobel Prize will enshrine this space. Charlie stops, and wipes his face Joseph comes and takes his place. Slowly now, no need for haste. The doorknob is missing from St. Peter's gate.

Copyright © July 2000 Doris C. Swearingen


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