After the Funeral

I spent the day
with tears sliding down my face
my throat aching
from holding back
the wrenching sobs

the funeral
finally ended
with a gun salute
and the folding
of the flag
at the graveyard

I should have gone
with the family
and smiled bravely
and helped serve lunch

instead
I grabbed
the best-looking man
in sight
and took him
home with me

we breathed the same breath
and left marks on each other
needing to touch life deeply
and drink from it
and not feel so alone
trying hard to remind ourselves
that we still
have some time left

Copyright Sharon Harris
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