MARCHING IN
"Oh, when the saints…Oh when
the saints…"
I can almost see you marching, my
darling
with a twinkle in your eye and a
spring in your step
like I hadn't seen in years…
No halo, no feathery wings
no Bourbon Street strut, no Sachmo
no funky Dixieland umbrella
movin' up and down to the beat
but I see you, just the same
marchin' in…
marchin' through those Pearly Gates
up the golden street, along the
glassy sea
hup two, three, four…
marchin' right up to The Throne
Yes, I can see you, my darling
falling to your knees before The One
seated
as an emerald rainbow swirls around
you both
I see Jesus rise to His feet, draw
you to His bosom
and welcome you in
I think of our wedding day
of Bob Leive's Wooster Street
Trolley Band
and Bob leading the march with his
old battered horn
to the song you loved so much
We all fell in line behind him
singing, "Oh, I want to be in
that number…"
as we marched round, round and round
the reception hall
Then I think of your funeral day
when you lay in the front of the
room
looking healthy enough to sit up and
ask me to dance
We listened to eulogy after eulogy
and praised God for bringing you
Home
Pastor Ben began strumming his
guitar
and we got up out of our seats
and marched as we sang,
"Yes, I want to be in that
number
when the saints go marching
in…"
We did it just for you
Maude Carolan
This is posted in memory of my former husband, Leo F.
Carolan, who marched into Heaven, nine years ago tomorrow, March 11, 2004. This
poem won the second place prize for poetry on March 11, 2006, at the St.
Catherine’s Art, Photography & Poetry Exhibition in Ringwood, NJ. It is
published in my chapbook, “The Widow’s Song.” Ordering information is at the
end of this blog.
*********
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate my
poet/friends, Elizabeth Marchitti and Barbara Williams-Hubbard for winning
awards for poetry this weekend at the 2013 St . Catherine’s Art Show. Elizabeth
won both third prize and an honorable mention award and Barbara won the judges
choice award for the second year in a row.
I love this poem about Leo. I'm sure he would have loved it too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth. I can almost hear Leo singing that song. It was his favorite. He told me that he wanted it played at his funeral. Yes indeed, I'm sure he would like the poem, too.
ReplyDelete