AN ELEGY
Chris Dedrick

The Free Design - 1968


When he went away for the last time
it wasn't so easy, words were hard to find
and the cows in the barn knew it was milking time
Must of been real hard to leave everything behind,
over there a moonless night shivering a secret fright
It wasn't so easy.
And how many missions more, where to and what for'
Ask the government, tell it to the cows in the barn

Then there was the moon, what did the moon see'
Saw the blade of grass in one boy's eye
and pain that'll make you glad you're dying

Hands that dribbled the basketball
Voice that sang out of tune
Love that ended too soon
A nose that bled for better reasons.

When he went away for the last time
it wasn't so easy, words were hard to find
and the cows in the barn knew it was milking time
It was milking time but he was so far away,
so far away that even prayers could not reach
So he died there.

When he came back for the last time
it wasn't so easy, words were hard to find
and we buried him before it was milking time
The preacher said it was all right, the Lord is my Shepherd
but I shall want to know why.




(Contributed by David Roberson - March 2011)