She stood over his grave cursing
Until one of the ladies finally convinced her it was time to go
Because the hall was waiting and the guests would be there, expecting to see the widow
Even though everyone knows
That today is the day for her grief
And her grief only knows its own bounds
Even though she could have been angry at anything
At the loss of her lifelong companion
At the things they did not get to do when they were young
At the things they couldn't do again when they were old
At the ones who had kept his company when she could not
At the fuss and bother of not being able to visit him again in the room down the hall
In the home they lived in, where other people cared for them
While they could not manage themselves
Maybe
At his refusal to reply when she called him those last times
For three days, when the nurses took her over to visit
And she would patiently say
Billy... Biilllyy... Billy, wake up.