Alternative Prayer of Remembrance, Easter 2018

Let us remember the old fuckers

who fell by the wayside:

 

The duckers and divers

the shirkers and skivers

the ones who danced like they just didn’t care

the sad-eyed wallflowers who were not quite all there

 

The matrons and the mothers

the cheeky hows-your-fathers

the vilified and unstable

tethered to the chopping table

 

The head shaking mirth-merchants

who chased the golden goose

the mincers and misers

who stewed in their own juice

 

The hoodwinked whipworms

loitering by the gate

the just about managing

licking gravy off their plate

 

The ostlers and tinkers

the mordant and forbidden

the wizards of enchantment

who misplaced all their rhythm

 

The ones who, when duty called,

turned on their heels and ran

the ones who slept in fear

of the bogey man

 

Let us say hallelujah

for the old fuckers who fell by the wayside.

 

The dotards and the divas

the Saturday morning cleaners

the space cadets and x-ray girls

who wore with pride their desi-curls

 

The wing bats and hard hats

bob cats and desert rats

the psychedelic neutron stars

who carried moonbeams in their jars

 

The wise old maids who span their yarns

while sons and lovers slept in thrashing barns

the diddies and the doddies

who lived life off their trolleys

 

The panjandrums slumped in an empty room

the lost dogs barking at the moon

the razor-clad sharpies who skinned the frog

and baked their souls in a suet of fog

 

The holy folk who broke their bread

and, when God didn’t answer, worshipped meth

   instead

 

Let us say hallelujah

for the old fuckers who fell by the wayside.

 

Amen.