Crowded Church

Passion Sunday dawned quite crisp;
Even the Sun was delighted at this.
In streamed Alanethia,
Beryl and Ruby.
Charles tipped his natty straw, and
Stepped the “Ooby-Doobie”
Into his front row pew.
Yes, the Christanthemum Baptist
Tabernacle
Was alit with fervent brim and
Treacle,
All for the love of The Lord.
Marquis and Marla,
Quite the loving pair,
Decked out in lime-ice
suit and skirts,
Why they presented so lovely,
Your eye might believe it had hurt!
Florence and Gage,
had turned the page, ‘pon
Arg’in and swattin,’ now it was
Nothing but Peace in the Valley.
Look then at Miss Sally,
She’s been done with the Alley,
For Holiness is her new adoration.
Ben began again, Here in the nave,
Just imagine all the tithes he has “Gave.”
Maudie Anne and her daughter Keila,
Had taken their customary perch
So at least they had the best view
Of that handsome Pastor Lerch!
As the organ creaked and groaned
Its lonesome joyful tone of the arising
hymn, a strange grinding noise
Startled the sexton Jim,
As he stood in the front font alcove
Straightening his best Sabbath clothes,
A frayed bowtie to top off his
coveralls.
Jim tried to call, he needed to warn them more–
But the dump truck’s evil roar
Went unheeded,
Now all prayers were needed;
Since the huge oily engine grille
Plowed through the
Brick and wood veneer,
And rent the rippling purple
Drapes, then–
The massive machine
Crushed the napes and Adam’s apples
of Alanethia, Grace, Beryl and Charles Mapple.
His Panama straw rolled helplessly across the aisle.
Through the crunch of splitting timber and ripped
Purple satin;
Reverend Lerch raised both palms,
Tears welling his eyes, he cried,
Let us pray a Blessed Matins,
For our beloved dead,
Who have given up their lives,
Like Christ,
In the Love of the Lord,
In the Love of Our Lord!