The Left Behinders

Today
we put on our
somber grays
and lay to rest
another player
from team humanity

Man of God
choreographs
the closing show
even though
he did not know
our dead friend
who had not set
foot in a church
since his wedding day

We snicker at the irony

His grieving wife
dressed in death black
leads the boo hoo brigade
showing affections
displayed rarely 
on life

We snicker at the irony

The kids
who hadn't
spoken to 
dearly departed Dad
in years
struggle to spout 
proper funeral cliches
in all the morbid
chit chat

At least he's at peace now 

The farewell caravan
runs red lights
all the way to the cemetery

Gather round
the perfectly shaped
final resting place hole

One last chance 
for the women to sob
and the men to pretend
we have tears ducts under control

All the assembled know
the terrifying
terribly
threatening truth
staring back
from the coffin
is a reminder
that
one day
the hole
and the 
preceding hypocrisys
will be for us

Think I'll get
my carcass cremated