Just in case

sonnet in tetrameter

 

Just in case.

 

The death knell sounds sonorously.
The mourners dressed decorously

 have come to say their last farewell.

Invited by the tolling bell.

 

Some come to pay their last respects.

Nobody mentions his defects.

An unspoken conspiracy.

 A custom universally.

 

observed by all the human race.

A funeral is not the place

to criticise the newly dead.

Perhaps because we live in dread.

 

That vengeful ghosts will take offence.

We choose to lie in self defence.

 

19/09/2009

http:// blog.myspace.com/poeticpiers

Reviews

[Helen Woodward]

How true is this! We sit at funerals thinking this person wasn't very nice, but we sing their praises right along with everyone else like sheep in the pews. Respect for the dead is a bit of a non-event unless they were genuine in life, but I pray for their souls regardless...everyone needs a prayer don't they?
Another truthful piece from you...four stanzas this time, I'm confused? Let me know about tetrameters would you?

Helen :)

[Tate Morgan]

We all hope to be remembered fondly.How strange it would be to run into a dissenter at a funeral.
Your friend tate