How odd

these children of God

pressed in a ring tightly

dark coats and hands

crossed politely

dead of winter

before the worms

at the end of Life's 

mortgage terms

assembled to honour 

dear grandad

burying him 

shaven and clean

(though not quite pristine)

30 below

in a box

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Note: "30 below" refers to the annual dip in temperatures on the Canadian prairies when the temperature falls to -30 degrees celsius or lower.