The neighbours gathered, a few friends too
\nand not so much was said:
\nfor old man Kerr was ninety-six
\nand lying on the bed.<\/p>\n
Before too long the cards were out
\nand a bottle of rye was opened,
\nand the murmur rose with the euchre hands
\nas they found their ways of coping.<\/p>\n
By quarter to six the the food was on:
\nsome salads and some sandwiches;
\nthe latter supplied by the Ladies Aid
\nwho worked on their cross-stitches.<\/p>\n
Before too long the clergy came
\nin the person of Father Leeds
\nand everything stopped, all the liquor and food
\nas they all put out the beads.<\/p>\n
Then Jimmy McPhee and his fiddle walked in
\nand he struck up a hearty strathspey
\nand the children engaged in some terpsichore
\nand the pipes began to play.<\/p>\n
Then folk from the village began to come
\nwith whiskey and apple pies
\nand others arrived as their chores were done
\nand the party swelled in size.<\/p>\n
Then Bishop MacDonald walked in and knelt
\nand again put out the beads
\nand everything stopped for the dialogue
\nand the hope that God would heed.<\/p>\n
Just then from the room at the back of the stove
\nemerged a pale sad face
\n“He’s gone,” said she, “to eternal reward.”
\nAnd the silence filled the place.<\/p>\n
“Amen,” said the Bishop, and he gathered his oils
\nand disappeared into the room.
\n“Let’s dance” said a voice, and the fiddle struck up,
\nand left no room for gloom.<\/p>\n
And off in the hills, where the winter lay white
\nunder the sliver of moon,
\nthe snow shivered down from a lofty spruce
\nas a breeze played the fiddler’s tune.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The neighbours gathered, a few friends too and not so much was said: for old man Kerr was ninety-six and lying on the bed. Before too long the cards were out and a bottle of rye was opened, and the … Continue reading