Mourning Ladies

Mourning ladies
Say good morning to their dead
Their gossiping departed
In tears they face their dread
They place their hands amongst the lifeless lost
And welcome them
The gossiping dead.
They walk amongst the tombs
She whom the river could not hold
They hum in the din of the dark
The dark path of illusion
Adored delusion of gossiping dead
Do they protect them?
Do they defeat the purpose?
Compete to the utmost act?
Repeat the ritual act
Repeat the practiced motions
They are in step with the dead
They are out of step with the time
This is the way the world ends
And this is the time.