(i)

Here lies the body of the text.
Corpus. Here resteth the body of.
In loving memory of.

(ii)

Four young daughters dead.
Marble wall plaque.
The names are blue.

(iii)

Underneath lie the remains
of a prominent family
cloth-rich and landed
depicted kneeling with
family in this memorial
estate around
a heraldic achievement.

(vi)

Coheiress. Marble wall plaque.
Left side bordered with leaves
and berries. Right side leaves only.

(v)

Framed manuscript. John Bradford.
Suffered death
by burning at the stake
for devotion to Protestantism
on July 1, 1555
wearing a shirt of flames
an irony of vestments.

(vi)

Love His Memory.
Imitate His Devotion.

(vii)

In the year of human salvation
stillbirth followed by motherdeath.

(viii)

In yeare 7 of his age
May they rest
In yeare 5 of her age
May they rest
In yeare 4 of his age
May they rest
In yeare 3 of her age
May they rest
In yeare 1 of his age
May they rest
They’r now past hope,
past feare, or pain

(ix)

This monument of pain and love
erected to memory
is a Rosetta stone worn
smooth by pious battalions.
In loving memory of a loving memory.

(x)

Do you want to know more, visitor?
Press your ear to the cold floor slab
hear the stone silence, the etcher’s echo
the research currently being conducted
to fill this gap

 

 

---

Tom Branfoot is a poet from Bradford, England. Volatile, his debut collection, is forthcoming from the 87 Press.

 

 

 

Photo by Wojciech Rzepka on Unsplash