The rain falls on the sullen mourners, obscuring tears that carve crevasses in their ashen cheeks. Calming words from the stolid pastor ease breaking-hearts, vaguely barricaded by waning denials. Wrapping arms around shoulders and waists, they struggle to comfort one another.

The rain falls on the undertaker as he releases the trigger of the lowering-device. Bitter sobbing increases as the casket disappears beneath ground level. The pastor recites a well-known psalm. Some join in while others move their quivering lips inaudibly. Finally it reaches the bottom and rests.

The rain falls on an elderly woman as she stumbles but the Pastor catches her before she can fall into the open grave. Around her the mourners take turns tossing posies and tipping trowel-loads of soil onto the lid of the casket below, biding their last farewells.

The rain falls on the Mourners, Pastor and Undertaker as they depart. Workers remove to the lowering-device, mats and boards, and start shoveling. The casket disappears beneath the mud as the grave fills past the brim. Hungry worms attend their feast.

The rain falls on and on.

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