Monumental Mischief

Did the ground heave,
or is a breeze riffling the grass
overgrowing her grave ?
Monolith tombstone with epitaph haunting us
unnerving and taunting us.
Eleven interred here – named individually
Ethel Anne Browne and ten cats.

Did they perish together, trapped in a fire,
singeing and stinking to Ethel Anne’s shrieks?
Or did they keel over,domino order
after eating old fish paste for Saturday tea?
Surely not smothered, like King Tut’s salukis,
buried alive for the afterlife hunts ?

Headstone enigmas, mysterious messages,
economic inscriptions creating  intrigue.
Was Ethel lucky, when she was going
timing her exit to leave with her cats?
Or was the mason on so-much a letter
making monumental mischief ?