The dead come to Paul
for him to teach them love
so they may pass
heaven’s gate.
He is poorly equipped
to teach such lessons,
but promised his mother
to do his best.
The first lesson
was a mountain walk
among the aspens
to a place above the tree line.
They spent the night
and watched the fireworks
of the Leonid asteroids
streak the sky
which gave way
to thin lines of clouds
that thickened
and then snow fell.
Since the dead
did not feel cold
they were not affected
by dropping temperatures.
But Paul pulled
his coat close around his body
and so he pulled
the dead close too.
What little warmth he had
he gave to the dead
thinking the disparity
would cause wings to sprout.
Snow angels was as close
as the dead came to growing wings.
copyright © 2021 Kenneth P. Gurney
Umflop 