Thabi

They came and lowered the box
to its premature place.
Sand thrown to cover him.

The old man behind me
leaned on his cane,
took off his hat
and held it to his chest.

Thirty seconds
down the dirt road
four men at work digging
a new grave.

The sound of a spade hitting hollow earth
and then dragging across stones
mixed with singing voices

and tears.