the funeral gathering (or too many masons)

by John Butterfield

dark suited with ties and yet not smart

in a shiny Italian way

but very respectable

they chat comfortable

man to man with each other

as they, followers of "the craft"

looking inwards to one another and

tolerating those outside their sacred circle

en masse attend the funeral

as the deceased was one of their own.

they seem unfriendly

but perhaps that’s because I am excluded

from this secretive inner clique

of lower middle class masons

and happy to be so

Robina

Is it the curse of living to the great age of 101

that only four people come to your funeral

and with the organist and the minister

they are all being paid for being there.

In those 101 years what ever happened

to your four brothers and five sisters

and their numerous offspring

did you outlive them all

or loose touch through the ordinariness of passing years?

you were liked in the home

and always pleasant for a chat

and share chocolate from one of your secret stashes

where were your friends?

surely you must have some friends younger than you?

how lonely it must be to outlive all your friends

and never married, were you used to being alone?

but though we are all alone when we make our final journey

from this life

it doesn't seem right that there is no one to say farewell in love:

thanks for the pleasure of knowing you.

go well you have been good to know.

In its own inadequate faltering way that was what the liturgy did

recognising the value of life and the love that surrounds us all.

Go now, little soul and rest eternally

in the presence of all who have loved you

and all you have loved

in the presence and source of all love.