Pillar Of The Community

 

His widow sat in the chapel’s front row

dressed in black and blubbering as practiced,

the Pastor stood at his pulpit

voice booming a sermonized eulogy

before the throng of relatives, friends,

followers and visitors,

while pausing occasionally to look at the black coffin.

 

Nobody was close enough to notice the wine on Reverend’s breath,

so carefully he had learned to keep from slurring his words,

especially when lecturing on the evils of alcohol.

But today was a chance to say his saintly pious speech

over a pillar of the community

such a fine soul indeed,

how his tongue whitewashed each shadow of that life,

Amens uttered to confirm the passing of this devoted man,

father, husband, a true testimony to righteous living.

 

Casket kept the truths unseen to be buried in his plot

about his gambling addiction and ruthless illegal business practices,

abuse scars to kids and marriage without any sex or care,

still by the time the minister was done

all that was painted in the absent of objections

was a portrait of godly life who was headed for heaven.

 

After the service they shuffled by that box,

each keeping up the pretense to preserve their own lies,

tonight they’ll swim in  a grape fermented river

until they are all drunk, but keep the smell behind close doors,

be able to sober up for the big temperance meeting tomorrow.

 

Last in line as a woman none of the others knew,

she was wearing some plain red dress

who reeked of cheap perfume,

why she came was hard to say,

just seemed appropriate for one of her steady johns.

 

Street instincts detected the falseness in this charade

couldn’t help and think in some ways

perhaps with her was the only time

he was truly naked and honest.