We found the raccoon lying, dead,

fur crumpled and dirty,

in the mud at the edge of the creek.

We named her Susie. 

the hole we dug

was just big enough

for her and some ferns.

we covered it up,

bordered it with stones.

one larger; a gravestone.

Adanna climbed up on a mound of dirt

to say a few things

about life and death.

and wondering if there was a purpose 

to anything.

and how we didn't know

if the raccoon had had a good life.

maybe she had starved or drowned. 

but she was going to a better place.

like Heaven.

Sabina said that we didn't know

if the raccoon had beleived in reincarnation.

I didn't bother to point out that

raccoons might not know what that meant. 

Adanna said

she wouldn't wish this world

on anybody.

Sabina said she would;

she liked this world. 

somewhere in there we had a moment of silence.

I put a bouquet on the grave.

just some early leaves and

pretty dried stalks.

not much grows in march.

we sang a song. 

Sabina wrote on the gravestone;

Susie

and the date

in two different colors of sharpie.