My funeral coat
Is long and heavy
And hangs from my shoulders
Weighing me down
Like a penance
When l lift it from the closet
I am always filled
With a terrible sadness
It is not a happy coat
This coat
In spite of its weight
Is not a warm coat
Although it should be
Yet it rests on my back
Like a marble tombstone
Many graves have been visited with this coat
It has shone many pews
Over the years
Accomplishing both it would appear
With aplomb and far too frequently
Than l would choose
Bread crumbs
Cake crumbs
Flakes from sausage rolls
Have settled on this coat
A veritable tray
It has suffered tears smiles and laughter
Usually in that order
Been offered sound advice
Nonsense and downright lies
Then walked back home
It is not a taxi coat
To hang in the darkness
Like a big black Bird of doom
Sadly
Today
It is time again
To bring out my funeral coat
It is not a happy coat
This is not a happy day