Party Time
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 3:48 am
Left early, your absence was so present.
It was a heavy scene, hard to keep up the happy pretense.
"Give her a triple!" they said, "The house special!"
"I'll have rum and coke" I said, smiling widely.
They toasted me in your name, "Here's to Mrs. Soul!"
I told them how well things were going without you,
Except that the plumbing's gone bad and last week the wind
Blew the top off the patio you helped build, and
Your dog had run away again.
We chuckled and they all promised to give a helping hand,
Apologizing for not keeping in touch, these are busy times
you know.
God! They looked handsome in their uniformed dress,
Standing teary-eyed, like before,
When they saluted you that final time,
Sorrow still sucking everyone in like quicksand.
Wish I'd worn something fancy, black is so cold,
Another reminder, I thought.
"Another toast!" Someone said and chanted, "Here's to us,
Who's like us?"
"Dammed few, and they're all dead!"
Then the clinking of glasses...laughter...a heavy scene.
"Another round!" someone said, "it's Party Time!"
The next time, I'll ask for a rain check!
Dorothy Alves Holmes
for Manuel who expired January 10, 1075
"The Heart Cannot Be Silent!"
It was a heavy scene, hard to keep up the happy pretense.
"Give her a triple!" they said, "The house special!"
"I'll have rum and coke" I said, smiling widely.
They toasted me in your name, "Here's to Mrs. Soul!"
I told them how well things were going without you,
Except that the plumbing's gone bad and last week the wind
Blew the top off the patio you helped build, and
Your dog had run away again.
We chuckled and they all promised to give a helping hand,
Apologizing for not keeping in touch, these are busy times
you know.
God! They looked handsome in their uniformed dress,
Standing teary-eyed, like before,
When they saluted you that final time,
Sorrow still sucking everyone in like quicksand.
Wish I'd worn something fancy, black is so cold,
Another reminder, I thought.
"Another toast!" Someone said and chanted, "Here's to us,
Who's like us?"
"Dammed few, and they're all dead!"
Then the clinking of glasses...laughter...a heavy scene.
"Another round!" someone said, "it's Party Time!"
The next time, I'll ask for a rain check!
Dorothy Alves Holmes
for Manuel who expired January 10, 1075
"The Heart Cannot Be Silent!"