They Sing “hallejuhah” Poem by Mike Tonkin

The morning sun dances among the trees
And the shadows join it and sparkle with the sunlight
The gravestones growing from the long grass
Are warmed by the words upon them
And the words call down to them, the dead,
And comfort them.

It is so quiet and not a breath of wind disturbs the foxgloves
And the old roses with their perfume which is everywhere,
And I stand still and think of these dead souls who lie
So quietly beneath the ground and wonder
What they were in life, what prepared them
For the long dreamless sleep.

It is Sunday and I imagine the dead spirits wake
And watch who comes here today to pray,
The church is cool, the woodwork shines with use,
The winding steps of the pulpit are ready to accept
The old man who knows it so well, the stone is mellow
And worn with the word of God.

They come in their summer dresses and Sunday best
To thank their Lord for what they have, and to impress
Upon him that they are truly good and bless his name,
And the old man who knows it so well tells them that
They are all sinners and should repent,
And they sing loudly “Hallejuhah”

They file out their duty done and laugh out loud
With the old man who knows it so well and return
To their homes feeling the better for their sacrifice.

The afternoon sun dances among the trees
And the shadows join it and sparkle with the sunlight
It is quiet again and not a breath of wind disturbs the foxgloves
And the old roses with their perfume which is everywhere.