Paul J Penton – Songwriter

Funeral- Daily Object Writing Aug 26

The order of service is presented as each person comes in, flowery writing announcing his name and the songs to be sung. The air is heavy with flowery perfume, daliahs and chrysanthemums and favorites from the garden. At the front of the small non religious chapel lies the coffin in shining polished wood, with a hint of light bouncing from overhead. As people come to pay their respects the music of the brass band he used to play with hangs in the air. Parades of speech march into peoples ears, his life story, tributes war history and his contributions all unfold.

A procession of cars glides in slow motion down the street with headlights on high beam. At the cemetery we become weight lifters hoisting the box above our shoulders in steely determination. A wound has been made in the ground ready to receive him . Final words are spoken, hands feel thick crumbly dirt, soft towel flower petals rhyme onto the polished wood like dancing elves.