They say, “We bury our own here.” *
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

He picked up the shovel stuck in the heap
Of dirt left to cover the grave;
Eased a light shifting of sun-dried soil
Onto the casket below
Encasing his beloved
Man cousin, 
Stuck the shovel back 
Into the dirt heap, turned and plodded
With head hanging low 
Back towards home. 

I picked up the shovel in the dirt heap
Of dirt left to cover the grave;
Eased a light shiftig of sun-dried soil
Onto the silk red fur coat 
Of the dog at in the grave below,
Encasing my beloved
Golden Retriever.
Stuck the shovel back 
Back onto the dirt heap, turned and plodded
With head hanging low
Back towards home. 

*old saying in Appalachia: The first person to throw dirt in the grave of a deceased is the one who loved the deaceased the most.