THE FUNERAL
Written by Barry P. Foley
Copyright @ 20 December 2007 NEW VERSION 22 FEB 2019
The boss called me to his office and said, “need you to cover for me
A relative's funeral’s today, down in Tennessee
Go home and put on a dark suit, make sure you’re there by two
Pick up some flowers, and "Son, let’s keep this between me and you”
I jumped in the company car, loaded up the GPS
Stopped in town for flowers and a fresh pack of cigarettes
Hit the Interstate with a 100 miles of blacktop, ahead of me
I always hated funerals, but how hard can a stranger’s be
At the cemetery, I was shocked, cause no one else was there
‘Cept a couple boys from the county jail, putting out some chairs
A car pulled up with a preacher & an old lady dressed in black
As the Hearst pulled onto the grass, with a pine box in the back
BRIDGE
One of the boys motioned for me, with a nod of his head
To help 'em carry that pine box, the last respect for the dead
As we got to the grave, the preacher began quietly
I looked up and it was just the old lady, the preacher and me
No more than 5 minutes passed, when the Preacher said Amen
He hugged the old lady and joined those boys over by a county van
I was standing there like a fool, with nothing proper to say
I said “Ma’am I’m sorry, but Dan Lawson couldn’t make it today”
She looked at me gently; I saw no tears in her eyes,
She said you can tell my baby brother, Dad forgave him the night he died
Please contact our Webmaster with questions or comments. © Copyright 2002-2023 Barry P. Foley. All rights reserved.