by Marshall Begel

“Graves could be reused under proposals to tackle lack of space for the dead”
—BBC

“I’ve been in this graveyard for 100 years,
And never heard stewards request volunteers
To open their parcel to any, but worms—
No dignified soul would agree to these terms!
My plot needs some weeding, my box may be shoddy,
But I will not share it with some other body!”

“Well, friend, your descendants (who couldn’t be found)
Neglected to safeguard this small piece of ground.
And please understand this idea wasn’t mine—
Some real estate manager fed us a line
Inflating the money my children would save,
If they would agree to this “slightly” used grave.

You’d better accept being double-interred,
For soon enough, we will be getting a third.”